June 2, 2000. A date forever etched in the hearts of fans. A night when the Indiana Pacers finally broke through. A night when years of heartbreak, close calls, and “almosts” were erased in a wave of emotion, pride, and victory. On this day 25 years ago, we defeated the New York Knicks, 93–80, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, punching our ticket to the NBA Finals—for the first time in franchise history.
It wasn’t just a game. It was a statement.
It was history in motion.
The Build-Up: Years of Almosts
Before 2000, the Pacers had been knocking on the door for most of the 1990s. We made the Conference Finals multiple times—1994, 1995, 1998, and 1999—but always came up just short. Reggie Miller’s heroics were legendary, the battles with the Knicks were classics, but the Finals always seemed just out of reach.
The core of Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose, Dale Davis, and Rik Smits had been tested through war after war. Under the leadership of head coach Larry Bird, this version of the Pacers was focused, hungry, and determined to finally get over the hump.
And in 2000, everything aligned.
The Road Through the East
The Pacers entered the playoffs as the #1 seed in the East, finishing the regular season 56–26. We survived a tough five-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and then battled past the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the second round.
Then came the matchup that always seemed destined:
Pacers vs. Knicks. Again.
New York had been our longtime nemesis. The rivalry, one of the fiercest in NBA history, was full of tension, physicality, and unforgettable moments. From Reggie’s eight points in nine seconds to the 1999 ECF heartbreak, the Knicks were both our obstacle and our measuring stick.
Game 6: The Night Everything Changed
Going into Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers held a 3–2 series lead. One win away from the promised land. But winning a closeout game in New York? That’s a tall order.
And yet, on June 2, 2000, we stepped onto that court with calm confidence. The kind that comes from experience, chemistry, and belief.
The game was gritty, just like every Pacers-Knicks showdown. But from the opening tip, Indiana controlled the tempo. We defended with intensity, rebounded with purpose, and executed with precision. On offense, Jalen Rose was in full control, scoring 24 points and making clutch plays when we needed them most. Reggie added 17 of his own, showing his usual cool under pressure.
But this wasn’t just a Reggie Miller show—it was a team win.
Mark Jackson dictated the pace, Dale Davis did the dirty work, and Rik Smits hit mid-range jumpers that softened the Knicks’ interior defense. The bench contributed energy and poise. Everyone knew their role. Everyone showed up.
By the fourth quarter, it was clear.
We were going to the NBA Finals.
Final score: Pacers 93, Knicks 80.
And with that, the Pacers clinched the series 4–2, sending the Knicks home—and sending Indiana into unfiltered celebration.
The Celebration, the Legacy
The moment the final buzzer sounded, the emotion was impossible to hold back. Reggie Miller—who had given his blood, sweat, and tears to this franchise—stood tall. This was his moment. After a decade of battling, he had led his team to the mountaintop of the East.
Coach Larry Bird, in what would turn out to be his final season on the sidelines, had accomplished what no Pacers coach before him had done. He took a group of veterans and molded them into a championship-caliber team.
And for the fans—those who packed Market Square Arena for years, who lived through every loss and every step of the climb—it was pure validation.
This wasn’t just about 2000. It was about everything that came before. The near-misses, the heartbreaks, the battles with MJ’s Bulls, the Knicks rivalries, the playoff wars. It was all leading to this.
The Finals Appearance
Although the Pacers would eventually fall to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals, the pride of making it there still resonates. We took the mighty Lakers to six games and played with heart every step of the way.
That Finals appearance remains one of the crowning achievements in franchise history. And it started with that Game 6 win in New York.
A Moment That Lasts Forever
Now, 25 years later, we look back and still feel the chills.
June 2, 2000 wasn’t just a win—it was a breakthrough.
It was the night the Indiana Pacers finally got their due.
The night we silenced Madison Square Garden.
The night we made history.
So here’s to that team. To Reggie. To Rose. To Bird. To the fans.
Y’all remember the moment—we always will.
👏
On this day, 25 years ago, we did it.
Pacers to the Finals. Forever proud.
