The 30 greatest NBA team rivalries in league history
5. Best NBA rivalries of all-time: Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden has long been regarded as the most iconic venue amongst NBA arenas. Aside from its location in the biggest media market in the country, there’s a certain history and aura that’s present for every game. It’s not tangible, but through the years it’s brought out the best from most of the top-level players.
Guys relish the opportunity to perform on the grandest stage, possibly none more so than Reggie Miller. A sweet-shooting two-guard for the Indiana Pacers, Miller was a showman in the Big Apple, bringing to light performances that helped shape Indiana’s rivalry with the New York Knicks.
Miller and New York’s Patrick Ewing were the headliners and made sure to dominate as best they could. One was a shooting guard, the other a 7-foot big man. Rarely if ever did they match up against one another, but each team countered with a guy they trusted to slow down these two NBA All-Stars.
Rik Smits was a ridiculous 7-foot-4 center Ewing couldn’t simply overpower. John Starks made up for his lack of stature with an unrelenting mouth to go along with his tenacity in guarding Miller. He was never one to back down from a confrontation, even if it wound up egging on his matchup more often than not which, in the case of Miller, was a bad idea. Just ask Spike Lee.
It was Game 4 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals with the Knicks up 2-1. In his customary courtside seat, Lee was wildly audible throughout the game, with his words mostly directed at Miller. Most players tend to block out the noise, but Miller used it to fuel one of the most iconic playoff performances.
He finished the game with 39 points, 25 of which came in the final frame. In response to Lee’s antics, Miller threw up the universal choke symbol to the superfan, taunting him on his way to an 83-77 victory.
Neither team ceded ground in this rivalry and it’s what made their battles epic. The Knicks still managed to claim that series in 1994, despite falling down 3-2. As the No. 8 seed in 1999, they took down the No. 2-seeded Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Who can forget Miller’s eight points in nine seconds, as well as Ewing’s missed bunny layup in Game 7?
They were locked at three apiece during their six playoff battles of the 1990s, a tie that was broken after Indiana took down the Knicks in 2013. There’s a distinct off-court difference between markets both small and big, but the Pacers proved no pushovers when the bright lights were upon them.