Indiana's five greatest games Pacers in the NBA playoffs
The moments that made the franchise one of the great teams in the association
In its almost 50-year history in the National Basketball Association, the Indiana Pacers have not won a title and only once reached the finals, which they lost to the New York Knicks in July 2000. However, this franchise has had a number of memorable playoff moments in which it has played relatively regularly despite the lack of major success. In what follows, we'll revisit the five best Pacers moments in key late-season matchups.
At number five in the ranking is the team's first playoff game in 1994. In 4 consecutive campaigns, Reggie Miller's team reached the playoffs, but ended in the first round. All eyes are on the franchise's fifth consecutive playoff appearance, as it could determine the team's fate. The rival is the young and aggressive Orlando Magic with Shaquille O'Neal and debutant Penny Hardaway in their ranks. In the first meeting between them, it was Magic who controlled the events, after leading by 12 points at the break and by 8 after playing the third quarter. In the final part, however, the Pacers turned the game around and cut their deficit to 2 in the final seconds. Naturally, the ball is constantly in Reggie Miller's hands, and this is not a surprise even for the Orlando basketball players, who stopped any opportunity for a three-pointer in front of the leader of Indiana. But when you focus four players on guarding one, one is most likely free. In this case, it's Byron Scott, who was drafted into the team in December. Scott leads Indiana to the win, which kicks off the team's first NBA playoff series win. Atlanta was subsequently eliminated, but the Pacers lost the Eastern Conference Finals to the New York Knicks.
A year later, expectations for Indiana are even higher. And they justify themselves even in the finals of the conference, which are against a familiar opponent - Orlando Magic. The East is waiting for its new king, and Orlando is set for revenge. After three meetings, the team from the state of Florida leads with 2:1 victories and match number 4 is key for the Pacers. He is considered one of the most dramatic in the playoffs, and his ending is even more shocking. In the last 30 seconds, the leader changed as many as four times. First, Brian Shaw put Orlando ahead, then Miller put Indiana back in front, but Penny Hardaway was determined to punish the Pacers before Rick Smits' incredible three-pointer tied the score at 2-2. The Dutchman is an iconic figure in franchise history, but surely this moment is so significant that it ranks in the top 60 playoff performances in NBA history.
For the third position, we move to another final meeting of the playoffs in the east. This is clash number six in the year 2000. A year in which all Pacers fans are convinced that this time there is nothing to stop the team for the final in the league. This is the last chance for a great generation to leave more than a lasting mark on franchise history. After dealing with Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Indiana team is focused on the matches with the New York Knicks. A team that has always given the Pacers trouble, but it's time for a change. After 5 matches, Indiana leads with 3-2 wins and has home advantage. The sixth clash, however, turns out to be key. It's time for tears at Madison Square Garden. The visitors kept the events under control for most of the time and guaranteed themselves at least four matches with the Los Angeles Lakers. Reggie Miller shines with 34 points, and success comes with as many as 13 points - 93:80. The Lakers went on to win the title with a 4-2 victory in the final series, but the 99/00 season will be remembered for Indiana's first title appearance.
Two seasons earlier, the franchise was in the Eastern Conference finals again. Something that happened extremely often in the 1990s. The opponent, however, is the winner of the title in the last 2 years, the Chicago Bulls, who again have no competition after the return of Michael Jordan. However, this is Jordan's final season, and the wavering is already showing. As early as the first round against the New Jersey Nets, the Bulls struggled, and then they squared off with the Charlotte Hornets, while Indiana breezed through their rivals to reach the pivotal series. After the first 3 games, each team won their home games, but Chicago is about to steal a game on the road, leading 94-93 with just 2.9 seconds left at Market Square Arena. Then came the moment of Reggie Miller, who managed to escape from Michael Jordan and scored a three-pointer, bringing the second success of the Pacers in the series after 96:94. They followed with one more back-to-back win before everything went in Chicago's favor in Game #7.
Surprisingly or not, the best playoff moment for Indiana once again comes from the 1990s. It came in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals. The opponent is the New York Knicks, and even in the first game at Madison Square Garden, the New Yorkers are determined to prove their class. Despite Millott and Smiths scoring a combined 57 points, the Knicks led 105-99 with 18.7 seconds left. And the most loyal Pacers fans are turning off their TVs because everyone thinks the game is over. But this is not the case at all. Because in the ranks of the visiting team is Reggie Miller. Celebrating Knicks fans can shut up, and Indiana fans who have turned off their TVs miss the moment Miller becomes a team legend. A legend who scores 8 points in 8.9 seconds, and the Pacers manage to steal home court advantage from their rival. That first game, won 107:105, proved to be key in the series for Indiana to advance to the conference finals. However, they remain insurmountable again.
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