New York Knicks: Revisiting Rivalry With Indiana Pacers

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Jan 18, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Jalen Rose receives the 11th annual Sports Legacy Award presented by FedEx prior to the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

2000: Pacers def. Knicks, 4-2

Unfortunately, the string of success that the New York Knicks experienced against the Indiana Pacers ends here. The Knicks had one heck of a run—and made more NBA Finals than the Pacers—but the issues remain.

Travis Best, Dale Davis, Reggie Miller, and Jalen Rose weren’t exactly fan favorites in New York before, but this may have been the icing on the cake.

One year removed from the most improbable NBA Finals appearance of all-time, New York made it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, after the two sides split the first four home games, Indiana won the last two to make an NBA Finals of its own.

The Pacers didn’t do anything especially flashy, but Best dominated Game 5 and Miller had a throwback performance in Game 6 with 34 points.

Latrell Sprewell did his best against the Pacers, and Patrick Ewing had one heck of a last hurrah. The Ewing era officially ended in this series, but one can’t help but be thankful to know that he played a part in one wonderfully true fact.

The Indiana Pacers are the only team in NBA history to lose a Conference Finals series to a No. 8 seed. Petty win.

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