In the winter of 1992, during the early peak of the Chicago Bulls` dominance, then-Indiana Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh reflected on how he wanted to reshape his team. He recalls a specific moment that provided the clarity he needed.
This moment, more than anything, involved star guard Reggie Miller being physically dominated. On December 30th, the Pacers hosted Pat Riley`s New York Knicks. In one particular play, Indiana center Rik Smits held the ball at the top of the key while Miller moved towards the basket, expecting a backdoor pass. The pass arrived, but Miller couldn`t get there.
Before the future Hall of Famer could reach the paint, Knicks enforcer Charles Oakley stepped in and delivered a forceful shoulder check. Miller crashed to the floor as the pass went out of bounds. Play-by-play announcer Marv Albert exclaimed, “Whoa!” while the Indiana crowd groaned. Surprisingly, the officials didn`t call a foul, seemingly stunned by Oakley`s brute force. This incident deeply impacted Walsh.
“The refs had no idea what to do,” Walsh commented on the collision, which later resulted in Oakley being fined $10,000 by the league despite no foul call. “Right then, I told myself: `This summer, I`m getting two guys just like Oak.` Players like that would instantly change the character of our team.”
Acquiring defensive-minded guard Derrick McKey and strong power forward Antonio Davis achieved exactly that. As Walsh molded the high-tempo Pacers into a more rugged team, similar to the Knicks, the seeds of a fierce rivalry were sown.
Indiana and New York, anticipated to compete for the Eastern Conference title this year, share a rich and dramatic playoff history. They faced off in three consecutive postseasons from 1993 to 1995 and six times within eight years from 1993 to 2000.
The rivalry reignited last year when the teams battled in the conference semifinals. Indiana ultimately prevailed, defeating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 with a record-breaking shooting performance.
With a ninth playoff confrontation potentially on the horizon, we rank the previous eight matchups – filled with memorable moments like head-butts, celebrity interactions, stunning comebacks, crucial injuries, questionable fouls, and iconic defensive plays – setting the stage for what could make the next series a worthy addition to this storied rivalry.
Ranking the Historical Playoff Series
1. 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals
In one of Reggie Miller`s most legendary performances, he scored eight points in just nine seconds, capitalizing on a Knicks meltdown that saw New York squander a six-point lead in the final 19 seconds of Game 1 at home.
The Pacers built a 3-1 series advantage, but New York clawed back to force a decisive Game 7. However, Patrick Ewing`s potential game-tying finger roll at the buzzer missed. (He had hit a dramatic turnaround floater with 1.8 seconds left to win Game 5).
With this victory, Miller and the Pacers not only eliminated the Knicks on their home court but also effectively ended the Pat Riley era in New York. Riley resigned ten days later and controversially took over the Miami Heat.
2. 1994 Eastern Conference Finals
With Michael Jordan retired from basketball, both teams saw a prime opportunity. The series was tied heading into Game 5.
New York led for most of the game, and Knicks fan Spike Lee famously heckled Reggie Miller from courtside. Miller, who had been struggling, erupted in the fourth quarter, hitting shots and glaring at Lee after each one. After a particularly deep three that gave Indiana the lead, Miller made a choking gesture towards Lee.
Miller finished Game 5 with 39 points, including 25 in the fourth quarter, leading Indiana to a stunning comeback and a 3-2 series lead. However, New York responded, winning Game 6 on the road behind John Starks` 26 points. Patrick Ewing delivered a monumental Game 7 performance (24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, including the game-winning putback dunk) to send the Knicks to the NBA Finals.
3. 1999 Eastern Conference Finals
The Knicks, featuring a restructured roster post-lockout with Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby replacing Starks and Oakley, suffered a major blow when Patrick Ewing tore his Achilles tendon in Game 2 (though he played through it in the game).
This series is most remembered for a pivotal moment in Game 3. With Indiana leading by three points late in the game, Pacers coach Larry Brown instructed his team to tightly guard the perimeter. Larry Johnson received the inbound pass, pump-faked Antonio Davis off balance, and launched a 24-foot shot.
The shot went in simultaneously with official Jess Kersey blowing his whistle for a foul – a highly controversial call given the minimal apparent contact. (Kersey later admitted it was a mistake). Johnson completed the four-point play, the Knicks won Game 3, and they eventually won the series to advance to the Finals against the Spurs.
4. 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals
This series featured several significant moments, including a disputed kicked-ball violation late in Game 1 that seemed to unfairly disadvantage the Pacers and Andrew Nembhard`s crucial deep three that helped Indiana secure Game 3. However, the defining moment was Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and the Pacers` absolutely dominant Game 7 performance on the road, scoring 39 points in the first quarter alone.
Indiana shot a playoff-record 67.1% from the field in a game where the already injury-plagued Knicks suffered more losses. OG Anunoby attempted to return but was clearly hampered by his hamstring strain and quickly subbed out. Jalen Brunson broke his hand during the game. Key players Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic were already out for the season. The Knicks players from this series, who led 3-2 before losing two straight, undoubtedly look forward to a chance for redemption, even if they don`t express it publicly.
5. 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals
The top-seeded Pacers` defense, anchored by Paul George and Roy Hibbert, caused significant problems for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks throughout this six-game series. Second-seeded New York struggled to draw the 7-2 Hibbert away from the basket and found scoring near the rim exceptionally difficult.
The most memorable instance occurred in the clinching Game 6. With five minutes left and the Knicks leading 92-90, Anthony drove baseline past George for a one-handed dunk attempt. Hibbert met him at the rim for a spectacular, career-defining block.
Hibbert reportedly has two posters of this block in his home.
6. 2000 Eastern Conference Finals
Reggie Miller delivered some of his most impactful performances in this series, hitting clutch shots repeatedly and scoring 34 points (including 5-of-7 from three-point range) in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden to eliminate the Knicks on their home floor. This was the final playoff meeting featuring both Miller and Patrick Ewing, who were 34 and 37 respectively. (Ewing missed Games 3 and 4 with a foot injury).
Indiana`s victory earned the franchise its first and only trip to the NBA Finals, where they were defeated by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O`Neal, and Phil Jackson`s Los Angeles Lakers.
7. 1993 Eastern Conference First Round
The 60-win Knicks had an opportunity to sweep Indiana in three games (the first round didn`t become best-of-seven until 2003), but John Starks head-butted Reggie Miller in the third quarter while his team was ahead.
Starks was ejected for the incident, angering teammates Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing, and completely shifting the game`s momentum. The Pacers went on a 59-34 run to avoid elimination. Fortunately for Starks, the Knicks closed out the series in Game 4.
8. 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals
The 58-win Pacers, who had added Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose, held a clear advantage: the Knicks had been without Patrick Ewing for months after he suffered a devastating wrist injury in December. New York had managed to get past the Heat in the first round but lost Game 1 against Indiana.
The 1-0 deficit prompted Ewing to make an early return for Game 2, but he lacked rhythm and couldn`t make an immediate impact. The series ended in five games, with Indiana`s balanced attack (fourth-best offense, fifth-best defense) setting up a conference finals showdown against Michael Jordan and the “Last Dance” Bulls.
Anticipating the Next Chapter (2025 Eastern Conference Finals)
Seeking more drama? You`ve likely found the right series. Following the Pacers` seven-game victory last year, Tyrese Haliburton was notably seen wearing a sweater depicting Reggie Miller`s famous choking gesture directed at Spike Lee, solidifying Haliburton`s status as a Madison Square Garden antagonist, much like Trae Young.
Even WWE capitalized on the narrative, orchestrating a televised confrontation between Jalen Brunson and Haliburton during a show at the Garden. “WWE, they were cooking when they did that,” Brunson remarked on the timing of the wrestling event coinciding with the playoff rematch.
Brunson expressed significant respect for Haliburton, noting that Haliburton was chosen over him for the U.S. Olympic team that won gold last year. The two players developed a rapport as teammates during the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
If this series continues the trend of wild, unpredictable finishes seen from both teams this postseason, it could ascend this list as one of the greatest Knicks-Pacers playoff battles yet.
Both teams have pulled off improbable 20-point comebacks in these playoffs – Indiana against the Bucks and Cavaliers, and New York twice against the Celtics. Furthermore, Haliburton and Brunson have been outstanding in clutch situations. The Knicks` leader ranks first in the playoffs with 14 clutch baskets, while Indiana`s star leads the league with four clutch makes specifically in the final minute of games this postseason.