2005 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6 vs. Detroit Pistons

Lore & Background

The 2005 Pacers-Pistons rivalry wasn't just basketball—it was a simmering grudge match born from the 'Malice at the Palace' brawl earlier that season, which left the Pacers decimated by suspensions. Game 6 at The Palace was a raw, defensive slugfest where every possession felt like a fistfight. Reggie Miller, the 39-year-old legend playing what would be his final NBA game, refused to fade quietly, drilling clutch three after clutch three to keep Indiana alive. With under a minute left and the Pacers up by two, the building was a cauldron of tension—one stop away from forcing a Game 7 back in Indianapolis.

In Their Own Story

The arena shook as the clock ticked under 30 seconds. Rasheed Wallace, the Pistons' combustible forward, wrestled for a rebound near the baseline, then pump-faked with the urgency of a man who knew time was slipping. Jermaine O'Neal, the Pacers' shot-blocking anchor, rose straight up—arms high, body vertical, textbook defense. But the whistle cut through the roar: a foul on O'Neal. The crowd erupted in disbelief; replays on the jumbotron showed barely a whisper of contact, a phantom brush at best. Wallace, ice in his veins, sank both free throws to tie the game. The Pistons, emboldened, steamrolled the Pacers in overtime, 88-79. For Pacers fans, it wasn't just a loss—it was a gut-punch that ended Reggie Miller's career on a note of bitter what-ifs.

Reader's Guide

The occasion was Game 6 of the 2005 Eastern Conference Semifinals, with the defending champion Pistons leading the series 3-2. The Pacers, battered by suspensions from the 'Malice' and relying on a 39-year-old Reggie Miller, were fighting to force a decisive Game 7. The game was a defensive grind—neither team led by more than six points in the fourth quarter, and every bucket came through a scrum of elbows and sweat. With 15 seconds left, the Pacers clung to a 79-77 lead. Then came the decisive play: Rasheed Wallace pump-faked from the baseline, and Jermaine O'Neal—jumping straight up with his arms vertical—drew a foul call that replays showed was phantom at best. Wallace calmly sank both free throws to tie the game, sending it to overtime. The Pistons dominated the extra period, winning 88-79. The game is remembered for that controversial foul call, which many Pacers fans believe robbed them of a chance at Game 7. It also marked the end of Reggie Miller's legendary career—he scored 27 points with seven three-pointers in his final NBA game, a performance that deserved a better ending.

Did You Know?

• Reggie Miller scored 27 points in his final NBA game, including 7 three-pointers.
• The game was the last playoff contest at The Palace of Auburn Hills before the Pistons moved to Little Caesars Arena.
• The controversial foul call on Jermaine O'Neal was later cited in NBA rule changes regarding defensive verticality.
• The series was the second straight playoff meeting between the Pacers and Pistons, following the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.