{"id":140623,"date":"2025-05-21T22:07:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=140623"},"modified":"2025-05-21T22:07:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:07:26","slug":"how-deep-the-knicks-and-pacers-rivalry-really-goes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/21\/how-deep-the-knicks-and-pacers-rivalry-really-goes\/","title":{"rendered":"How Deep The Knicks And Pacers Rivalry Really Goes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Knicks<\/a> and Indiana Pacers<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

How Deep The Knicks And Pacers Rivalry Really Goes<\/h2>\n

A Rivalry Forged in the 90s<\/h3>\n

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<\/a> headbutted Reggie Miller<\/a> in a moment of rage, sparking a fire that lit the next decade of playoff encounters.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t just playoff series\u2014they were emotional wars.<\/p>\n

The Faces That Shaped the Rivalry<\/h3>\n
\"Rick
May 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts during a timeout in the fourth quarter during game two of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

1994 and 1995: The Rivalry Reaches Its Peak<\/h3>\n

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\u2014one of the most iconic playoff moments ever. While the Knicks eventually won the series, the Pacers had made their presence known.<\/p>\n