8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Indiana Pacers 15 greatest playoff moments

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 28: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers sits on the scorer's table during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Conseco Fieldhouse on April 28, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 99-76 to take a 2-1 series lead. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 28: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers sits on the scorer's table during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Conseco Fieldhouse on April 28, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 99-76 to take a 2-1 series lead. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Reggie’s 25-point fourth

1994 Eastern Conference finals, game 5

Chronologically speaking, this was not the first moment from the 1994 playoffs that marked the beginning of a new era for the Pacers, but it’s the first on this list.

If the Pacers golden age was their ABA dominance from 1969-1975, then Indiana’s silver age began with the 1994 playoffs and rolled, roughly, through 2000.

But the silver age was off to a rough start in the Eastern Conference Finals, down 2-0 to the New York Knicks, the return trip to Manhattan and Madison Square Garden was ominous.

The Knicks were the most feared team in the East, and with Michael Jordan (temporarily) gone, they were the favorites to win the conference if not the championship too.

New York had a megastar in Patrick Ewing, plus his three henchmen — Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and John Starks. They had the best home-court advantage in the league. The Pacers hadn’t won in the Garden in three years and were 1-15 in Reggie Miller’s Pacers career. Indiana entered the fourth quarter of game five trailing by 12, with Spike Lee chirping.

And chirping.

And chirping.

Then Reggie Miller happened. And happened. Three after three, shot after shot, with Miller chirping back at Lee all the while.

This was the choke-sign game, but more importantly, it marked the Pacers as a contender on the national stage. It also exorcized the specter that Madison Square Garden played in Indiana’s mind, and it laid the foundation for Reggie Miller to become one of the great clutch performers in NBA history.

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