It was never just a game. Knicks-Pacers was a war. Fought on hardwood, forged in the ’90s, and fueled by heart, hate, and heroics. New York vs. Indiana wasn’t about basketball—it was big city bravado clashing with small market spite. In 1994, Patrick Ewing’s Knicks clawed their way past the Pacers in a grueling seven-game Eastern Conference Finals. A year later, Reggie Miller dropped eight points in nine seconds, silencing Madison Square Garden—and Spike Lee, who became little more than a courtside casualty.
Reggie became the villain, and NYC never stopped booing. In 1995, he delivered the final dagger as Ewing missed a game-tying layup in Game 7. The rivalry slowed, but it never truly ended. And now, nearly three decades later, it’s reborn on an even bigger stage. As the Knicks and Pacers face off in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, the echoes of that rivalry? It’s drama, pettiness, and it’s pure chaos? They are back. Only this time, the names are Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson, not Reggie and Patrick. And trust us, the beef is far from over.
What are the recent off-court beefs between the Pacers and the Knicks?
You’d think a few decades and a bunch of coaching changes would cool things off. Nope! This year’s Eastern Conference Finals might look like a vintage matchup on paper, but the beef has been freshly seasoned. The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers have collided in the postseason eight times now—six of those battles happening within eight years back in the day. The last time the Knicks were this close to the Finals? Yep, 2000. Who stopped them? You already know.
But in 2025, it’s Tyrese Haliburton who’s channelling Reggie’s ghost. In Game 1 of this year’s series, Haliburton hit a clutch game-tying shot to force overtime. Cool enough. But then he turned to TNT’s broadcast table and pulled the choke gesture. Not at random—but directly at Reggie Miller, who was on the call and loving every second. It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t necessary. And it was very much personal. Haliburton made it clear: the torch has been passed. From villain to villain. And if Knicks fans hated Reggie, well, they’re just getting started on Tyrese.
What happened during the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals? Tyrese Haliburton’s post-game gesture that triggered NY Fans
Let’s rewind to the 2024 playoffs. Knicks-Pacers. Game 7. Madison Square Garden. A classic, right? Not exactly, unless you enjoy watching a team get steamrolled in slow motion. The Pacers shot a bonkers 67% from the field (yes, that’s the best in NBA playoff history) and left MSG with a 130-109 win. Haliburton led the way with 26 points and then casually strolled into the postgame press conference in that hoodie.
What hoodie? Oh, just a black pullover with an image of Reggie Miller flashing the iconic choke sign at Spike Lee. Haliburton claimed it was “just comfy.” Sure, and the sky’s green. “I mean, I’m just wearing a hoodie,” Haliburton shrugged. “I like to be comfy on the plane.”
Right, Hali! And Knicks fans just love reliving trauma in cotton blend.
What interaction did Josh Hart and Tyrese Haliburton have after the Pacers lost to the Celtics in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals?
After Indiana’s playoff run ended with a sweep at the hands of the eventual champs—the Celtics—Haliburton did what any Gen Z star would do: he curated his end-of-season Instagram photo dump. Slides of outfits, shoes, and a few on-court moments. But Knicks guard Josh Hart couldn’t resist poking the bear.
Under one of Haliburton’s photos, Hart commented something short, brutal, and very Josh Hart—a dig at Tyrese’s fashion choices: “Started and ended with trash fits.” Haliburton clapped back with equal bite, reminding Hart he was watching from home: “You became an analyst after playing us.”
Their back-and-forth didn’t exactly light up the league, but it added fuel to a rivalry that didn’t need any more lighter fluid. Now, the two are back on the same playoff court, and the energy? It’s less friendly banter, more silent animosity.
How did the rivalry between the Pacers and the Knicks start? Starring Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, and more
The roots of this beef date back to 1977, but it took off like a rocket in the ‘90s. Between 1993 and 2000, the Knicks and Pacers met in six different postseason series. The games were intense, but the real drama was often courtside, where Knicks superfan Spike Lee would taunt Reggie Miller until, well, Reggie made him regret it.
Miller’s fourth-quarter explosions were often followed by animated trash talk, iconic celebrations, and soul-crushing daggers. He wasn’t just beating the Knicks—he was mocking them while doing it. He earned the nickname “The Knick Killer” and never once tried to shake it. It wasn’t just Miller. The rivalry was blood-and-guts basketball. Fleming. Richardson. Thompson. Smits. Davis. Every dribble felt like a brawl, every possession like a showdown in a spaghetti Western. And just when it seemed like the feud had finally petered out, the NBA gods handed us Haliburton vs. Brunson. Spike vs. Reggie 2.0.
So here we are. 2025. Game 4 in the Garden. The Knicks and Pacers locked in another war. Haliburton’s already cemented himself as this generation’s Reggie—sharp shooting, showboating, and doing just enough to make New Yorkers’ blood boil. Josh Hart’s delivering… well, being benched. And Brunson with the ghost of Patrick Ewing riding shotgun.
And the fan bases? Still furious, loud, and booing with purpose. This isn’t just nostalgia bait. This is a legitimate modern rivalry, built on historical trauma and revived by a new generation that’s totally aware of the stakes. For Haliburton, trolling isn’t just instinct, it’s… inheritance. For Knicks fans, beating Indiana isn’t just about advancing to the Finals. It’s about exorcising ghosts that have haunted the Garden for 30 years.
It’s episodic drama with elite jumpers and petty side quests. So the next time someone says Knicks-Pacers is about the past? Just show them the choke hoodie. Or better yet, Game 6. Because, like we said, this was never just a game.
The post What Is the Beef Between Knicks & Pacers? Exploring the NBA Rivalry Amid Eastern Conference Finals appeared first on EssentiallySports.