Well, we’ve reached Day 3 in our wait for the renewal of Knicks-Pacers, so the best way we can properly utilize this space this week is to provide a primer on just why the Pacers and the Knicks are so unforgettable.
Let’s do it chronologically:
1. May 4, 1993: Pacers 116, Knicks 93
The Knicks had won two hard-fought games at home, playing as the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1970. The Pacers, at 41-41, had finished 19 games behind the Knicks. And the Knicks seemed poised for a sweep at Market Square Arena, up 55-49 at the half. But early in the third, Reggie Miller began goading John Starks, and Starks was easily goad-able. With 8:48 left, Starks put the Knicks up two, Miller said something, and Starks headbutted him, drawing an ejection. The Pacers outscored the Knicks 59-34 the rest of the way.
John Starks (front) often let Reggie Miller get under his skin. NBAE via Getty Images2. June 1, 1994: Pacers 93, Knicks 86
The Knicks led after three, 80-69, and seemed ready to cruise to a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Then Reggie went berserk, nailing 3 after 3, and to make matters more interesting, he got involved in some verbal jousting with Spike Lee, capped by Miller flashing the choke sign. And thus was a New York villain officially born.
3. June 3, 1994: Knicks 98, Pacers 91
Two days later, with Lee sitting courtside in Indiana, the Knicks kept their season alive, assisted by Miller. Trailing by one late in the game, Miller had two free throws to give Indiana the lead and possibly shove the Knicks into the abyss. But he missed one of two, Derek Harper hit a huge 3, and the Knicks survived.
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4. June 5, 1994: Knicks 94, Pacers 90.
Two days after that, the Knicks trailed by four at the half and by 90-89 with 30 seconds to go when Starks drove, missed a layup, and Ewing followed with the dunk that put the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years.
5. May 7, 1995: Pacers 107, Knicks 105
We heard a whole lot about this one last week. Down by six with 18.7 seconds left, Miller hit a 3, recovered the ball after a bad throw-in, hurried back behind the line and buried another 3. Starks had a chance to end the madness but blew two free throws, and on the rebound Miller was fouled and made two free throws.
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6. May 17, 1995: Knicks 96, Pacers 95
Down 3-1 and down a point after a late Byron Scott 3, Ewing drove to the basket, maybe (lol) took an extra step and at the buzzer saved the Knicks’ season.
7. May 19, 1995: Knicks 92, Pacers 82
For the second straight year, the Knicks ruined a Market Square clinching party, outscoring the Pacers 27-13 in a decisive third quarter to force Game 7
8. May 21, 1995: Pacers 97, Knicks 95
The Finger Roll Game. What else needs to be said?
9. May 10, 1998: Pacers 118, Knicks 107 (OT)
This was a house-money game for the Knicks, who’d already stunned the Heat in the first round and welcomed Ewing back after missing five months with a wrist injury. But the Knicks were one stop away from forging a 2-2 tie with the heavily favored Pacers in Game 4, up three late. Rik Smits went for a quick two and missed, Chris Mullin won a scramble for the rebound and … well, of course Reggie hit a game-tying 3 to force OT. And that was that.
10. June 1, 1999: Pacers 88, Knicks 86
The Knicks had already stolen Game 1, and Ewing lofted a good-looking 16-footer at the buzzer of this one that barely missed. What nobody knew in the moment was Ewing was playing on a damaged Achilles that would end his season and hinder the rest of his career.
11. June 5, 1999: Knicks 92, Pacers 91
The Knicks trailed 91-88 with 5 seconds to go. Then Larry Johnson made a 3, was fouled, made the free throw and some of the 19,763 people who were there that day still don’t hear right.
Larry Johnson hits a 3-pointer and is fouled on the play during Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals. ASSOCIATED PRESS12. June 11, 1999: Knicks 90, Pacers 82
For one of the few times, Miller came up small in a big spot, shooting 3-for-17 and 1-for-8 from 3 as the Garden serenaded him all across the fourth quarter, and the Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals.
13. May 23, 2000: Knicks 91, Pacers 89
The last gasp of the Ewing Era Knicks came with Ewing sitting out Game 4 of the Eastern finals. Johnson dropped 25 and the Knicks tied the series 2-2
14. June 2, 2000: Pacers 93, Knicks 80
Reggie’s playoff swan song at MSG was a keeper, 34 points and 5-for-7 from 3 eliminating the Knicks in Game 6 after the teams entered the fourth tied at 62.
Patrick Ewing celebrates after the Knicks eliminated the Pacers in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals and advanced to the NBA Finals. ASSOCIATED PRESS15. May 18, 2013: Pacers 106, Knicks 99
The Knicks were up 92-90 when Carmelo Anthony rose for a poster dunk over Roy Hibbert. Instead it was Hibbert who did the posterizing, the Pacers scored 16 of the final 23 points and ousted the Knicks in Game 6 of the East semis.
Vac’s Whacks
I am fully aware that you don’t come here seeking advice on either gambling or ice hockey, which is probably wise, but I do think its remarkable that the Rangers are slight underdogs to the Hurricanes in this series.
Yep. Sure looks like it’ll take Caitlin Clark a while to adjust to the WNBA. She scored 21 points and had five 3s in her exhibition debut, which is sure to make Diana Taurasi more than a little salty.
Caitlin Clark shoots during the Fever’s preseason loss to the Wings on May 3, 2024. USA TODAY SportsGodspeed Danny Castellano, who covered the Mets for many years for the Newark Star-Ledger, who was an early mentor of mine when I started writing baseball in earnest, and who was among the gentlest souls I’ve ever met.
I think Michael Douglas is just superb playing Benjamin Franklin, and it only took a few episodes before I stopped waiting for him to whisper to some haughty Frenchman that “greed is good.”
Whack back at Vac
Rich Nash: I really don’t think the Pacers have any idea what they are in for. Rick Carlisle is a terrific coach who will make things interesting. At the end of the day, they don’t have enough to match up with this team. Knicks in five.
Vac: I just think it’s a great time to be alive, with so many New Yorkers not necessarily waiting for the sky to fall. (Yet.)
Joe Nicoletti: Joel Embiid is at the top of the list of all-time bigs for shooting and scoring for three quarters. Unlike Russell, Reed, Ewing, Olajuwon and Jokic, he gets nowhere near lists that include integrity, leadership and effort.
Vac: The 76ers need Embiid to commit to getting fit this summer. They don’t need him biding his time with Team USA. And should tell him that.
@JohnWil33368589: I think it’s pretty obvious that if Embiid wasn’t hurt, the Sixers sweep. The Knicks are better without Randle and starting both Hart and OG.
@MikeVacc: I suppose it will come as little surprise to you, dear readers, that his X bio defines him thusly: “Philly sports diehard.”
Stewart Summers: The Yankees hired a former MIT physicist to join their analytics department. Perhaps Nike should consider hiring an MIT physicist to design their next batch of MLB uniforms.
Vac: Please?
