1998 Eastern Conference Finals Appearance
Pacers push Bulls to the breaking point in a seven-game classic.
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals was more than just a playoff series—it was a war of attrition between the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls, a seven-game slugfest that forced Michael Jordan and his dynasty to their absolute limit. For the Pacers, this was their first trip to the conference finals since the ABA-NBA merger, and it announced to the league that a new contender had arrived, built on grit, guile, and a legendary first-year coach.
- Series Opponent
- Chicago Bulls
- Series Result
- Lost 4-3
- Key Player
- Reggie Miller
- Coach
- Larry Bird
- Arena
- Market Square Arena (Indianapolis)
Lore & Background
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals is remembered as a classic clash between the Pacers and the dynastic Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Pacers, under first-year coach Larry Bird, had emerged as a tough, disciplined team built around Reggie Miller's clutch shooting and a gritty defense. The series went the full seven games, with the Pacers winning three times at home, including a memorable Game 4 blowout. The Bulls ultimately prevailed in Game 7 at the United Center, but the Pacers' performance earned respect league-wide and signaled their arrival as a powerhouse.
In Their Own Story
The air in Market Square Arena felt thick with history as the Pacers took the court for Game 4, trailing 2-1 in the series. Reggie Miller, his face a mask of cold focus, began to work his magic—each jumper a dagger, each three-pointer a roar that shook the old barn. The crowd, a sea of blue and gold, rose with every bucket, sensing the shift. By the fourth quarter, the Bulls—those untouchable Bulls—were scrambling, their aura of invincibility cracking. When the final horn sounded, the Pacers had blown the doors off Chicago, tying the series and proving to the basketball world that this was no fluke: the dream of an NBA Finals berth was alive, and it felt real enough to touch.
Reader's Guide
The 1998 Eastern Conference Finals stands as a landmark achievement for the Indiana Pacers, their first trip to the conference finals since joining the NBA in 1976. Facing the Chicago Bulls—a team chasing their sixth NBA title and led by the unstoppable Michael Jordan—the Pacers pushed the series to a full seven games, winning three times at the raucous Market Square Arena. Though Game 7 slipped away on the road, the Pacers' relentless defense and Reggie Miller's clutch heroics proved they could trade blows with the best. This series didn't just earn respect; it laid the foundation for the franchise's 2000 NBA Finals run and is still remembered as one of the most fiercely contested battles in Eastern Conference history.
Did You Know?
- The Pacers had not won a playoff series since 1994 before this run.
- Larry Bird was named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season with the Pacers in 1998.
- Reggie Miller scored 28 points in Game 4, a pivotal win for Indiana.
- The Bulls went on to win the NBA Finals that year, their sixth championship.
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