1998 Eastern Conference Finals vs Bulls

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 he shoved Michael Jordan to create a sliver of space—a play so brazen it's still debated 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.

In Their Own Story

The air in Market Square Arena was thick with tension. Game 4, and the Pacers were down 2-1. Reggie Miller caught the ball on the wing, Michael Jordan draped all over him like a second skin. With a subtle shove—barely a nudge, but enough—Miller created an inch of space, caught Travis Best's pass, and rose. The ball arced through the air, a perfect parabola that seemed to hang forever, before snapping the net. The Chicago crowd, which had come to witness a coronation, fell silent. The Pacers had stolen home-court advantage, and for one night, the Bulls dynasty wobbled on its axis. The dream of an upset was alive, and the hardwood felt electric.

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.

Did You Know?

• Reggie Miller scored 19 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4, including the game-winning three-pointer after shoving Michael Jordan.
• Larry Bird coached the Pacers in his first season as an NBA head coach, having never coached at any level before.
• The series was the only time the Bulls faced a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference during their second three-peat (1996–1998).
• Pacers center Rik Smits averaged 16.1 points per game in the series, providing crucial inside scoring.