2013 Eastern Conference Finals Appearance

Lore & Background

The 2013 Eastern Conference Finals are remembered as a brutal, physical battle between two teams that genuinely despised each other—and it showed in every possession. The Pacers, built around a stifling defense anchored by Roy Hibbert and David West, matched up surprisingly well against Miami's small-ball attack. Hibbert turned the paint into a no-fly zone, swatting shots and altering everything, while George's two-way brilliance gave the Heat fits. The series featured unforgettable moments: George's posterizing, one-handed slam over Chris Andersen that shook the rim and the crowd; Lance Stephenson's antics, from blowing in LeBron's ear to jawing at anyone in a Heat jersey; and Hibbert's monstrous 29-point, 10-rebound Game 5 that had Bankers Life Fieldhouse shaking. Game 1 in Miami was a statement, as the Pacers stole home-court advantage with a 102-96 win, bullying the champs on their own floor. They pushed the Heat to the brink, leading 3-2 after a dominant Game 5 at home. But LeBron James responded with a 32-point triple-double in Game 6, and the Heat closed out the series in Game 7 despite a valiant Pacers effort. The loss stung like a broken nose, but it proved the Pacers could hang with the best—and leave bruises.

In Their Own Story

The air in Bankers Life Fieldhouse was thick with tension. Game 7. The Pacers had fought back from a 3-2 deficit, and now the season hung on 48 minutes. Paul George, just 23, dribbled the ball upcourt, the crowd roaring like a wounded animal. He drove, pulled up, and sank a jumper—a quiet dagger that said, 'We're not done.' But Miami answered every run with cold precision. In the final minutes, LeBron James took over, his shoulders squared, his eyes locked. The Pacers' shots, so crisp all series, started rimming out—agonizing clanks that echoed through the arena. When the buzzer sounded, the Heat celebrated on Indiana's floor, a blue-and-gold sea deflated. George stood motionless, hands on his knees, chest heaving. He stared at the floor, knowing they had come so close they could taste it.

Reader's Guide

The 2013 Eastern Conference Finals was the Pacers' deepest playoff run since their 2000 NBA Finals appearance. Occurring in May-June 2013, the series saw the Pacers, as the No. 3 seed, take the defending champion Miami Heat to a decisive seventh game. Though they fell short, the series announced Paul George as a superstar and cemented the Pacers' identity as a defensive powerhouse. It remains one of the most celebrated near-misses in franchise history, a badge of honor for a team that refused to back down.

Did You Know?

• Paul George averaged 19.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in the series, earning praise for guarding LeBron James—and holding him to 41.7% shooting in Game 1.
• Roy Hibbert averaged 22.1 points and 10.4 rebounds in the series, including a 29-point, 10-reboard Game 5 that turned Bankers Life into a madhouse.
• The Pacers led the series 3-2 before losing Games 6 and 7—the only time in LeBron James' career he faced a 3-2 deficit and came back to win.