On this day in 1995: Reggie Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to guide Indiana Pacers over New York Knicks
Perhaps the most iconic event in Indiana Pacers franchise history happened on this date in 1995.
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the New York Knicks were hosting the Pacers in Madison Square Garden. Both teams had easily dispatched their first round opponent and were hoping to make an NBA Finals run, like the Knicks did the year prior.
New York eliminated Indiana in both the 1994 and 1993 playoffs, and the teams had become rivals. With Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' dominance over the Eastern Conference temporarily on hold as he pursued a career in baseball, the East was more wide open.
Game 1 set the tone for this series. It was a close game throughout, with Rik Smits playing an excellent game for the Pacers. He finished that outing with a game-high 34 points while the Knicks deployed a balanced attack.
New York's defense and balance were enough to propel them to a six-point lead late. The scoreboard read 105-99 with under 20 seconds to go. But the Pacers had possession, and they had Reggie Miller. This game was far from decided.
Indiana was inbounding the ball with 18.7 seconds remaining, and after a struggle to get it in play, Miller wiggled free on the left wing. He caught the ball, turned, and immediately launched a three.
It rattled through. 105-102. 16.4 seconds to go.
As the Knicks were trying to inbound after the make, Miller collided with Knicks guard Greg Anthony, who tumbled to the court. Anthony Mason, who was inbounding the ball, had already leaned forward slightly in an attempt to throw it in, but with Anthony on the floor, he had nothing productive to do and tossed it to Miller. The Pacers legend calmly caught the ball, scurried behind the three-point line, and canned another triple.
105-105. 13.2 seconds to go. So far, Miller had six points in 3.2 seconds.
The Knicks had quite literally thrown away their lead, but they still had the ball in a tie game situation at home. And before they even could make a play, the Pacers committed an off-ball foul on John Starks, sending the New York guard to the foul line with no time ticking away.
But Starks, in the moment, missed both free throws. The second one missed short, and the ensuing rebound was tipped around between Pacers and Knicks players. In the end, it ended up in the hands of Hall Of Famer Patrick Ewing, who had a decent look from about 10 feet away in the paint.
It hit back iron. This time, Indiana secured the rebound, and of course it was Miller. He was immediately fouled by Mason with 7.5 seconds on the clock as the Knick tried to rip the ball free.
Unlike Starks, Miller was perfect from the line, hitting both. The Pacers, who had very recently looked hopeless, now led 107-105 with 7.5 seconds to go, and the franchise icon Miller had scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to make it happen.
The sequence is a namesake for a Pacers blog, and its anniversary is celebrated by the franchise every year. Given the playoff setting and moment, it was one of the more iconic plays in NBA history.
With their final possession, the Knicks let Anthony try to get a bucket. He drove right but once again fell to the court, this time while still holding the ball. The clock expired with Indiana ahead 107-105, and the Pacers stole Game 1.
They went on to win the series in seven games and reach the Eastern Conference Finals. They were then defeated by the Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway led Orlando Magic in seven games, falling just short of the NBA Finals.
Even so, winning that series over the Knicks helped the Pacers reach their second Eastern Conference Finals ever and was the host of an iconic moment for the franchise. 28 years later, it is still discussed every May 7.
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