Flips it to the big fella….
1995 Eastern Conference finals, game 4
Another slide, another year, another moment between the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic. Like the Bogdanovic story, we’ve written about this one before.
The 1995 Conference Finals was a rematch of the 1994 first round matchup between the two teams.
The Magic led the series 2-1 entering game four at Market Square, making a game four crucial for the Pacers. This game was a classic, a battle culminating in one of the most dramatic finishes in playoff history: four successive lead-changing shots traded between the two in the game’s final half minute. First Brian Shaw from Orlando, then Miller, then Penny Hardaway and the final from the Dunking Dutchman, Rik Smits.
Smits was an interesting figure in Pacers history, and unquestionably one of the greatest to don Indiana blue and gold.
His career started very promisingly, then somewhat stalled and refused to take off for several seasons. Fans grew antsy with the quiet center. Then they were furious that he wasn’t traded before the 1993-94 season and Detlef Schrempf was. But Smits strong 1994 campaign began to ease fans back into his favor, with the piece de resistance coming here with fractions of a second left when the Pacers desperately needed a prayer.
The prayer was answered by the big fella, who pump-faked Tree Rollins out of the way, and squeaked off the shot that produced one of the greatest roars in franchise history.