Pacers vs Knicks Timeline – A Thrilling Rivalry That Changed NBA History Forever

You know how some basketball games feel like battles? Not just on the scoreboard, but deep down in the heart? That’s exactly what Pacers vs Knicks has always been about — passion, pride, and pure drama.

If you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember those late ’90s playoff nights. The tension. The noise. The way Madison Square Garden would shake when Patrick Ewing made a dunk or when Reggie Miller hit a dagger three. I still get chills just thinking about it.

Let’s walk down memory lane and relive the madness — year by year — with the full Pacers vs Knicks timeline below.

Pacers vs Knicks Timeline (Table Format)

Year/Season	Series/Event	Winner	Moments You’ll Never Forget
1993 Playoffs (1st Round)	Knicks vs Pacers	Knicks (3–1)	Patrick Ewing was unstoppable. Reggie Miller’s spark started to show — you could already feel something brewing.
1994 Eastern Conference Finals	Knicks vs Pacers	Knicks (4–3)	Miller drops 25 in the 4th quarter of Game 5! But Ewing and Starks pull through in Game 7 at MSG.
1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals	Pacers vs Knicks	Pacers (4–3)	Reggie Miller scores 8 points in 9 seconds. I mean, who does that? MSG went from loud to silent in a heartbeat.
1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals	Pacers vs Knicks	Pacers (4–1)	Pacers completely dominate. Miller’s confidence was through the roof. Knicks looked tired and out of sync.
1999 Eastern Conference Finals	Knicks vs Pacers	Knicks (4–2)	The miracle run — Knicks were 8th seed! Allan Houston’s clutch play sealed it. New York went wild.
2000 Eastern Conference Finals	Pacers vs Knicks	Pacers (4–2)	Finally, Reggie got his revenge. Pacers to their first NBA Finals. Miller’s face said it all: peace at last.
2000–2001 Regular Season	Knicks vs Pacers	Knicks (2–1)	Rivalry cooled, but MSG still booed Miller like it was ‘95 again. Some things never change.
2002–2010	Regular Season	Various results	Miller retires, Knicks rebuild — the fire dies down. But fans never forgot those wars.
2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals	Pacers vs Knicks	Pacers (4–2)	Paul George vs Carmelo Anthony brought the heat back. Defense. Intensity. Vintage Pacers energy.
2020–Present	Regular Season & Playoffs	Mixed results	Haliburton vs Brunson could be the next chapter. You can feel that old rivalry spark again.

Where It All Began

The story starts in the early ’90s — the gritty era of basketball. Back when elbows flew, trash talk was poetry, and defense was personal.

The Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, were tough as nails. They didn’t just play defense; they punished offenses. Then came Reggie Miller — thin frame, loud mouth, and ice in his veins.

Miller wasn’t scared of anyone, especially not New York. He walked into Madison Square Garden like he owned it. And honestly? Sometimes it looked like he did.

If you ever saw him glare at Spike Lee after a clutch three, you know what I’m talking about. It wasn’t just basketball — it was theater.

1995: The Night MSG Fell Silent

Every rivalry has that one moment. For Pacers vs Knicks, it happened on May 7, 1995.

Pacers were down six. Less than 20 seconds left. Game over, right?

Nope. Reggie Miller hit two threes in nine seconds — eight points in total — and turned the Garden into a library. Knicks fans couldn’t believe it. You could almost hear the heartbreak through the screen.

For Pacers fans, that moment wasn’t just a win. It was revenge. It was payback for all the years New York mocked them.

Even now, decades later, every highlight reel still includes that clip — because you can’t talk NBA rivalries without mentioning it.

The War Years (1994–2000)

Between 1994 and 2000, the Knicks and Pacers faced off five times in the playoffs. That’s not rivalry — that’s obsession.

The games were ugly, in the best way possible. Players brawled, fans screamed, and every possession felt like a war for pride.

I remember staying up late, yelling at the TV, begging the refs to call a foul. You couldn’t look away.

When the Knicks made the Finals in 1999 as an 8th seed, even Pacers fans had to respect that grind. But Indiana got the last laugh in 2000 when Reggie led them past New York to their first-ever NBA Finals.

It felt like closing a long, painful chapter. Miller didn’t gloat; he just smiled — calm, collected, satisfied.

The Quiet Years (2001–2012)

Every great rivalry eventually cools off. After Miller’s retirement in 2005, things just… slowed down.

The Knicks struggled through rebuilds. The Pacers lost their edge after the “Malice at the Palace” years. For fans like me, it felt strange — like watching your favorite movie series end. You wanted more, but the stars had moved on.

Still, any time the Knicks and Pacers met, there was this undertone — a flicker of nostalgia. You could almost hear echoes of the old chants, the boos, the trash talk.

2013: Paul George Rekindles the Flame

Then came 2013. The Knicks were relevant again, with Carmelo Anthony leading the charge. The Pacers were young, fearless, and defensive-minded with Paul George, David West, and Roy Hibbert.

Their second-round playoff series brought everything back — the energy, the grit, the bad blood.

Hibbert’s block on Melo? Iconic. George’s calm confidence? Chillingly familiar. It was like Reggie Miller had passed the torch.

Indiana won the series 4–2, and suddenly, the old rivalry was back in every conversation. Fans like me couldn’t stop smiling — this was the kind of basketball we’d missed.

The New Chapter (2020–Present)

Now, it’s Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton carrying the torch. Both young, both fearless, both capable of igniting that rivalry flame again.

Today’s NBA might be faster and flashier, but when the Knicks and Pacers meet, something old stirs. The chants get louder. The fans get rowdier. And the ghost of Reggie Miller still lingers at MSG, somewhere in the rafters, smirking.

If you ask me, we’re only one playoff series away from a full-blown revival. And honestly, I can’t wait.

Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different

There’s something timeless about Pacers vs Knicks. It’s not about stats or rings — it’s about emotion.

It’s about New York’s pride versus Indiana’s heart. City lights versus small-town grit. Broadway showmanship versus Midwestern toughness.

Even today, when I rewatch those classic games, it’s not just nostalgia — it’s storytelling at its best. Every foul meant something. Every stare-down told a story.

Basketball has rivalries. But Pacers vs Knicks? That was personal.

Summary Timeline – Rivalry Through The Decades

Decade	Defining Era	Impact on Rivalry
1990s	Reggie Miller vs Patrick Ewing	Peak intensity. Historic playoff battles that defined both teams.
2000s	Miller’s farewell & Pacers’ Finals run	Rivalry cools. Emotional closure for fans.
2010s	Paul George vs Carmelo Anthony	Rivalry reborn with a new generation of stars.
2020s	Haliburton vs Brunson	A new storyline forming. The next chapter is just getting started.

Final Thoughts

When I think of the Pacers vs Knicks timeline, I don’t just see scores and stats. I see stories — heartbreaks, comebacks, legends.

It’s Reggie Miller taunting Spike Lee. It’s Patrick Ewing battling for every rebound. It’s Paul George bringing back the old fire.

Some rivalries fade. This one just waits for the right moment to spark again.

So next time you see the Knicks and Pacers share the court, don’t just watch the game. Watch the ghosts of the past come alive — one three-pointer at a time.