The Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks met in a highly competitive 2000 Eastern Conference Final, with the winner marching on to the NBA Finals. The Pacers were up 3-2 by Game 5, and Reggie Miller knew they had to push themselves to close it out in six.
Doing so would not be easy. For one, Game 6 would be played at Madison Square Garden. At the time, the Knicks were on a five-game losing streak at the Mecca, so Miller knew they had to dig deep to finish off the Knicks.
"They are a very scary and dangerous team that you have to put the dagger in and you got make sure the heart ain't pumping no more," Miller stated via UPI ahead of that game.
Big stakes on the line
While home-court advantage is a problem, the Pacers knew they needed to step up and not let this opportunity slip away. The team had never made the finals in franchise history. They had three chances in the past but failed.
The Pacers would have enough. Indiana used suffocating defense to frustrate New York, limiting them to just 80 points in that pivotal game. To cap that, Miller delievered a superb performance by dropping 34 points and starred in the final quarter. With Jalen Rose and Travis best helping, the Pacers went on to win, 93-80.
New York also had a decent offensive showing, but it wasn't enough in the end. Latrell Sprewell finished with 32 points, while Patrick Ewing, despite an injury, added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Their efforts were not enough to deny the Pacers their first NBA Finals stint in franchise history.
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Sigh of relief
Miller heaved a big sigh of relief when the Pacers finished off the Knicks. He added that it was even made sweeter since they accomplished it at MSG where they have been struggling to win games.
"There was no other place we could've done it but there. Everything was just aligned right – the moon, the stars – for us to clinch it there. Truthfully, I would've been scared to play them in a Game 7 back here [in Indiana]," Miller stated .
Indiana would next face the rising Los Angeles Lakers. They would have their hands full trying to contain a team that had a dynamic duo in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Pacers gave the Purple and Gold worthy competition. They even had the chance to tie the series in Game 4.
Unfortunately for them, Kobe was someone they overlooked. With Shaq fouling out, the Black Mamba stepped up in overtime to help the Lakers take a 3-1 lead. Indiana stayed alive by winning Game 5. They almost replicated that with a late surge in Game 6. Unfortunately, O'Neal and Bryant would snuff all that with timely points to close out the series in six games.
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