Indiana Pacers: Moments that still haunt the franchise

Jan 29, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) sits on the scorer's table waiting to enter the game in his return to the court for the first time from a season ending injury. He retuned during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

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Ron Artest – (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The Indiana Pacers have not had the best luck lately.

First off I’d like to say I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween, and please stay safe. That being said let’s take a look at moments that haunt the Indiana Pacers.

Malice at The Palace

Ben Wallace driving to the basket and Ron Artest committing a hard and very unnecessary foul is an image ingrained in most Pacer fans’ minds. The Pacers were looking like the best team in the league early in the season with a chip on their shoulder from losing to the Pistons the season prior.

The Pacers were on the rise and it was their time to capitalize on how good of a team they were; they had championship aspirations. Ron Artest was looking like one of the best two-way players in the league at the time, with Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal, and Reggie Miller (in his last year) by his side. The Pacers were poised to do big things. All of that to be thrown away by one cup of beer hitting Ron Artest in the chest.

After that season Ron requested a trade and was shipped to the Sacramento Kings. The Pacers had something special brewing in Indy but saw it all be blown up because of Ron Artest’s ego and horrible temper. Let’s not forget there were only 45 seconds left in that game and with the game decided there was no reason to have Artest in the game, but I digress. November 19, 2004, a day Pacer fans will never forget.

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