2000 NBA Eastern Conference Title

Lore & Background

The Pacers won their first Eastern Conference title after four previous appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the last game Patrick Ewing ever played as a Knick. The Pacers did not win another playoff series until 2004.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Market Square Arena was thick with tension as the clock ticked down to zero. Reggie Miller stood over the free-throw line, his eyes locked on the rim, surrounded by a sea of blue and gold. The crowd roared, a deafening wall of sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the building. With every swish of the net, the Pacers' dream of another championship run grew stronger. But this time, the dream didn't die. When the final buzzer sounded, the arena erupted—a 20-year wait for the Finals was over. It wasn't just about winning; it was about proving that Indiana belonged at the highest level, right alongside the giants of the NBA.

Reader's Guide

In Game 6, Reggie Miller scored 17 points in the 4th quarter to help the Pacers reach the NBA Finals. It was also Patrick Ewing's last Knicks game before being dealt to the Seattle Supersonics during the off-season.

Did You Know?

• This was the sixth playoff meeting between the Pacers and Knicks, with the Knicks winning three of the first five meetings.
• After this season, the team was radically altered with key players Dale Davis, Derrick McKey and Mark Jackson moving to other teams and Rik Smits retiring.