The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers rivalry remains one of the most intense and enduring rivalries in NBA history. Over 48 playoff games across eight postseason series, these two teams have battled for Eastern Conference supremacy. Despite changes in eras, coaches, and players, the tension remains alive every time they clash.
How Deep The Knicks And Pacers Rivalry Really Goes
A Rivalry Forged in the 90s
This rivalry started in the 1993 playoffs when the Knicks and Pacers first met. The Knicks won that series 3-1, but Game 3 changed everything. John Starks headbutted Reggie Miller in a moment of rage, sparking a fire that lit the next decade of playoff encounters.
From 1993 to 2000, the Knicks and Pacers met six times in the postseason. No other NBA rivalry matched the frequency or ferocity of their clashes during that span. These games weren’t just playoff series—they were emotional wars.
The Faces That Shaped the Rivalry
This rivalry has always had stars. Miller, known for his clutch shots and trash talk, often delivered his best performances against New York. Spike Lee, Knicks superfan, helped elevate the rivalry with his courtside antics. Their back-and-forth remains iconic.
Then there are the coaches. Rick Carlisle, now Indiana’s head coach, once served as an assistant with the Pacers during the height of the rivalry. Tom Thibodeau, currently leading the Knicks, was an assistant in New York during the same era. Their presence only deepens the rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers.
1994 and 1995: The Rivalry Reaches Its Peak
In 1994, Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. He taunted Spike Lee and made the choke sign—one of the most iconic playoff moments ever. While the Knicks eventually won the series, the Pacers had made their presence known.
The next year, Miller stunned the Knicks with 8 points in 9 seconds. He hit two threes and two free throws in under 20 seconds to steal Game 1. Indiana won the series in seven games, eliminating the Knicks for the first time.
1998 and 1999: Familiar Foes Clash Again
Indiana won the 1998 series in five games, with Miller once again delivering dagger shots late in games. But the Knicks returned the favor in 1999. Despite being the eighth seed, New York upset the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
That year, Larry Johnson’s four-point play in Game 3 helped tilt the series. The Knicks reached the NBA Finals, while Indiana was left wondering what went wrong.
2024: A New Chapter in a Classic Rivalry
The Knicks-Pacers rivalry resurfaced in full during the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series went seven games, with Indiana winning 4-3. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers to their first Conference Finals in a decade.
For the Knicks, it was another painful end. But this rivalry is far from over.
New York retooled its roster in the offseason. The team aims to return to the NBA Finals for the first time in 26 years. Indiana also dreams of breaking through for its first Finals appearance since 2000. Both teams are hungry, and both are willing to go through each other again.
More Than Just Games
What makes a rivalry legendary is the emotional weight it carries through generations. Fans remember the pain, the victories, and the villains. The Knicks-Pacers rivalry lives on because of these moments—and because both teams refuse to back down.
Even players like Jalen Brunson and Obi Toppin carry personal connections to the history. Brunson watched his father play in the rivalry. Toppin started with the Knicks and now suits up for Indiana.
This isn’t just a rivalry. It’s a tradition.
The Last Word
The Knicks and Pacers will meet again, and when they do, expect fireworks. No two teams in NBA history have played more playoff games against one another. That stat alone says everything.
An NBA Finals spot will be on the line in this series. Every possession will matter. Every moment will be a chance to add to the lore of this rivalry.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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