The 10 greatest rivalries in NBA history

#5 Pacers-Knicks

Allan Houston and Reggie Miller

While the Knicks are a joke now, they were a part of some of some great rivalries in the 90s and their encounters with the Pacers produced many memorable moments especially involving Reggie Miller and Spike Lee

The two teams met in the playoffs for the 1st time in 1993 when the Knicks easily dispatched the Pacers in the first round, but this is where it all began. In Game 3, Miller's trash talk led to John Starks headbutting him and it was officially on.

In 1994, Miller torched the Knicks by scoring 25 points in the 4th quarter to give the Pacers a 3-2 lead but the Knicks stormed back to win the series in 7. The following year Miller earned the nickname "Knick-Killer" as he scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds to steal Game 1, as this time the Pacers won it in 7. After another Pacers win in 1998, the momentum seemed to have shifted to the Pacers but 1999 was a magical year for New York.

The Knicks became the first 8 seed to make it all the way to the Finals and they beat the Pacers on the way. Game 3 was the turning point, as with the Pacers up 3 with 11 seconds remaining, Larry Johnson converted on a 4 point play to win the game for the Knicks. They eventually won it in 6 and reached the Finals. The Pacers returned the favor the following year by beating the Knicks in 6 in the East Finals.

As is the case with every Knicks rivalry in the 90s, it's cooled down now thanks to their incompetence.