1998 Eastern Conference Finals vs Bulls
The seven-game war that made the Bulls sweat.
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls wasn't just a playoff series—it was a seven-game slugfest that nearly rewrote NBA history. The Pacers, a gritty, rising squad led by Reggie Miller and head coach Larry Bird in his second season, stood toe-to-toe with Michael Jordan's dynastic Bulls, who were chasing their sixth championship in eight years. Every possession felt like a war of attrition, and by the end, the series had transformed the Pacers from plucky underdogs into legitimate contenders who pushed the greatest team of the era to the brink of collapse.
Quick Facts
- Defining moment
- Game 4: Reggie Miller's game-winning three-pointer after a screen
Lore & Background
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals was a collision of contrasting identities. The Pacers, built on balance and defensive grit, had never sniffed the NBA Finals, while the Bulls were a dynasty in pursuit of immortality. The series was defined by bone-rattling physicality, chess-match coaching, and moments that still give Pacers fans chills. In Game 4, with the Pacers trailing 2-1, Reggie Miller unleashed one of the most audacious performances in playoff history: 19 points in the fourth quarter alone, capped by a game-winning three-pointer after a screen freed him from Michael Jordan—a play so clutch it's still celebrated in bars across Indiana. The series stretched to a decisive Game 7 in Chicago, where the Bulls ultimately survived, but the Pacers had proved they could trade haymakers with the NBA's royalty.
Reader's Guide
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals marks the Pacers' coming-of-age moment. Under first-year coach Larry Bird—a man who had never coached at any level before—the team shed its underdog skin and proved it could go blow-for-blow with the greatest dynasty in NBA history. The series defined the late-1990s Pacers: tough, smart, and unflinchingly team-oriented, a squad that refused to back down even when facing Jordan's cold-blooded glare. It cemented Reggie Miller as a postseason legend and gave the franchise a blueprint for success—defense, three-point shooting, and mental toughness. Though the Pacers ultimately lost, the series elevated their national profile and set the stage for their 2000 NBA Finals run. For fans, it remains the gold standard—a haunting reminder of how close they came to toppling the Bulls and altering the course of NBA history.
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