Pacers vs Pistons

Lore & Background

After the Detroit Pistons had ended their season the last three years, the Bulls got revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions. It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974, when both teams were still part of the Western Conference. Game 4 ended with some of the Pistons walking off the court before time expired, refusing to shake the Bulls' hands. In their last show of defiance, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, and Mark Aguirre of the Pistons walked off the court with 7.9 seconds left in Game 4 so as not to congratulate the Bulls. Only Joe Dumars and John Salley shook hands with any of the Bulls. The Pistons walked off the court without shaking hands with the Bulls, supposedly due to comments by Michael Jordan in a pre-game interview, where he stated that “The Pistons are undeserving champions”, and that “The Bad Boys are bad for basketball.”

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Conseco Fieldhouse was thick with tension as the fourth quarter wound down. A Bulls player drove hard into the lane, only to be met by a wall of Pacers defenders, their arms raised in a classic zone defense that had frustrated Chicago for years. The crowd roared as the whistle blew on a charging call, sparking immediate arguments from both benches. It wasn't just about points; it was a battle of wills, where every foul and every possession felt like a war of attrition.

Reader's Guide

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning three of the first four meetings. The Bulls swept the series 4–0.

Did You Know?

• The Bulls swept the two-time defending champion Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974, when both teams were still part of the Western Conference.
• Game 4 ended with some Pistons players walking off the court before time expired, refusing to shake hands.