Editing Indiana Pacers (section)

==Rivalries==

===Detroit Pistons===
{{Further|Malice at the Palace}}
The Pacers and Pistons met for the first time in the [[1990 NBA playoffs|1990 Playoffs]]; the Pistons swept the Pacers in three straight games on their way to their [[1990 NBA Finals|second straight NBA championship]]. But the rivalry truly began in the 2000s, specifically during the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]]. The Pacers finished with a league-best 61 wins and were led by [[Jermaine O'Neal]], [[Ron Artest]], and [[Reggie Miller]], and coached by [[Rick Carlisle]]. Carlisle had been fired by Detroit at the end of the previous season. Detroit was led by [[Chauncey Billups]], [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]], [[Rasheed Wallace]], [[Tayshaun Prince]], and [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]], and coached by former Pacers head coach [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]]. Indiana won the first three matchups in the regular season, before being defeated by the Pistons in the final regular-season meeting at the Palace. That was also the first time the two met after [[Rasheed Wallace]] was traded to Detroit.

They met in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana narrowly won Game&nbsp;1, thanks to some late heroics from Miller. Rasheed, unimpressed, stated "they will not win Game&nbsp;2" during an interview before the second game (locally known as the "Guaran-Sheed" victory). Late in Game&nbsp;2, Detroit held a two-point lead, Billups turned over the ball, and Miller appeared to have an uncontested lay-up that would have tied the game. However, before Miller could score, he was chased down by Prince, who leapt from behind and blocked the shot. Near the end of Game&nbsp;6, when Detroit held a slight lead, Artest committed a flagrant foul on Hamilton, which nearly caused tempers to boil over. Detroit won the series 4–2, and went on to win the NBA title.

On November&nbsp;19, 2004, at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], what has become known as the [[Malice at the Palace]] took place. Nine players were suspended for varying lengths after a violent altercation in the stands.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kurtz |first=Jeffrey B. |date=April 2019 |title=With Malice Towards All? Moral Authority, Violence, and the (Affective) Discipline of Basketball (Bodies) |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2167479517747870 |journal=Communication & Sport |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=157–175 |doi=10.1177/2167479517747870 |s2cid=148725283 |issn=2167-4795}}</ref> Artest received the longest penalty: the remainder of the season.

That year teams split the four regular season meetings. They met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and split the first two games. The Pacers blew an 18-point lead, but still won Game&nbsp;3 in [[Indianapolis]]. However, just as he did a year earlier, Rasheed promised a win in Game&nbsp;4 saying, "When we return, we will be tied at two". The Pistons won Games&nbsp;4 and 5. The Pacers, knowing a loss would lead to Miller's retirement, fought hard, but fell to the Pistons 88–79.

===New York Knicks===
{{Further|Knicks–Pacers rivalry}}
The [[Knicks–Pacers rivalry|Knicks–Pacers Rivalry]] has been heavily documented since [[1976–77 NBA season|1977]]. During the 1990s, the Knicks and Pacers were perennial playoff teams. They met in the playoffs six times from [[1993 NBA playoffs|1993]] to [[2000 NBA playoffs|2000]], fueling a rivalry epitomized by the enmity between [[Reggie Miller]] and prominent Knick fan [[Spike Lee]]. The rivalry was likened by Miller to the [[Hatfield–McCoy feud]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Clifton|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E4DB143AF937A15752C0A961958260&scp=2&sq=knicks+pacers+rivalry&st=nyt&pagewanted=print|title=Give Miller a Hand? Not in This Rivalry|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 24, 1997|access-date=January 27, 2008|quote=Reggie Miller compares the Knicks–Indiana Pacers rivalry to the Hatfields vs. the McCoys.}}</ref> and described by ''[[The New York Times]]'', in 1998 as being "as combustible as any in the league".<ref>{{cite news|last=Wise|first=Mike|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E5DD1631F936A35756C0A96E958260&scp=1&sq=knicks+pacers+rivalry&st=nyt&pagewanted=print|title=THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; For Combustibility, It's Knicks–Pacers|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 5, 1998|access-date=January 27, 2008|quote=From head-butts to hideous trash talk, from Miller versus John Starks, the Pacers–Knicks rivalry has been as combustible as any in the league.}}</ref> During those years, the Pacers were led by a core of [[Reggie Miller]], [[Rik Smits]], [[Mark Jackson]], [[Jalen Rose]], [[Chris Mullin]], [[Dale Davis (basketball)|Dale Davis]], [[Antonio Davis]], [[Derrick McKey]], [[Detlef Schrempf]], and others. On the other hand, the Knicks consistently built teams around [[Patrick Ewing]], [[John Starks]], [[Charles Oakley]], [[Allan Houston]], [[Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)|Larry Johnson]], [[Latrell Sprewell]], as well as former Pacer legend [[Herb Williams]].

The Knicks and Pacers next met in the [[2013 NBA playoffs|2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals]] with the Pacers upsetting the [[2012–13 New York Knicks season|Knicks]] 4–2. This series included Pacers [[2013 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] [[Paul George]], [[David West (basketball)|David West]], [[Roy Hibbert]], [[George Hill (basketball)|George Hill]], [[Lance Stephenson]], [[Tyler Hansbrough]], [[Gerald Green]], [[Ian Mahinmi]], and [[D.&nbsp;J. Augustin]]. The Knicks consisted of [[2013 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] [[Carmelo Anthony]], [[J.&nbsp;R. Smith]], [[Raymond Felton]], [[Tyson Chandler]], [[Jason Kidd]], [[Iman Shumpert]], [[Rasheed Wallace]], [[Kenyon Martin]], and [[Marcus Camby]]. The Pacers battled without [[2009 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] forward [[Danny Granger]] as he sustained a season–ending injury, while Knicks [[2011 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] big–man [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] also experienced limited playing–time due to injury. Following the season, [[Chris Copeland]] left the Knicks to sign with the Pacers.

The Knicks and Pacers would again meet in the [[2024 NBA playoffs|2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals]]. The Pacers were now led by [[2024 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] point guard [[Tyrese Haliburton]], joined by [[Myles Turner]], [[Pascal Siakam]], [[Aaron Nesmith]] and [[Andrew Nembhard]] in the starting lineup. The "Nova Knicks" in turn were led by their own [[2024 NBA All–Star Game|All–Star]] point guard, [[Jalen Brunson]], while other key players included [[Julius Randle]], [[OG Anunoby]], [[Mitchell Robinson]], [[Donte DiVincenzo]] and [[Josh Hart]]. Despite Randle missing the series due to injury, the Knicks jumped out to a series lead after winning game 1 at home, via a series of controversial officiating decisions in the final minute, before also winning game 2, in which they lost Anunoby to injury. The Pacers responded by winning games 3 and 4 at home, before the teams traded home wins in games 5 and 6. The Pacers won the series with a historic offensive performance in game 7, winning the series 4–3.<ref name="espn.com"/>

===Miami Heat===
{{Further|Pacers–Heat rivalry}}
The two franchises first met in the [[2004 NBA playoffs]], when Indiana won 4–2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Indiana was seen as title contenders, having the 1st seed in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]], and the [[List of National Basketball Association seasons|best record in the league]], led by [[Reggie Miller]], [[Jermaine O'Neal]], [[Ron Artest]], and [[Al Harrington]]. The Heat were led by rookie [[Dwyane Wade]], [[Lamar Odom]], [[Eddie Jones (basketball)|Eddie Jones]], and [[Caron Butler]], with this being Wade's first ever playoff experience. The Pacers would go on to lose in 6 games in the [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]] to the eventual [[2004 NBA Finals|2004 NBA Champion]] [[Detroit Pistons]]. Following the [[2003–04 NBA season]], and before meeting again in [[2012 NBA playoffs|2012]], Indiana remained competitive in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]], while Miami would win their first ever championship in [[2006 NBA Finals|2006]] after acquiring [[Shaquille O'Neal]].

A true rivalry with the [[Miami Heat]] was triggered in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the [[2012 NBA playoffs]]. During the series, both head coaches were fined for statements made relating to the officiating: [[Frank Vogel]] accused the Heat of flopping before the series started, while [[Erik Spoelstra]] took offense to what he perceived to be deliberate "head–hunting" of his players on the part of the Pacers. In 2012, Indiana took a 2–1 lead after Miami's [[Chris Bosh]] was sidelined with an abdominal strain. Powered by [[LeBron James]] and [[Dwyane Wade]], Miami won three straight games to take the series, 4–2 and later become [[2012 NBA Finals|2012 NBA Champions]]. The series was marked by several suspensions, flagrant fouls, and confrontations between the players: [[Tyler Hansbrough]]'s flagrant foul on Dwyane Wade (which drew blood), Udonis Haslem's retaliatory flagrant foul on Hansborough (which led to Haslem's Game 6 suspension), Wade colliding with [[Darren Collison]] in transition, [[Juwan Howard]] confronting [[Lance Stephenson]] over the latter's flashing of the choke sign to James, and [[Dexter Pittman]] elbowing Stephenson in the neck (which led to his own three–game suspension). Indiana's [[Danny Granger]] received technical fouls in three consecutive games for his confrontations with Heat players; he stripped James of his headband in Game 2 while attempting to block a shot, pulled the back of James' jersey in Game 3 while trying to stop a fast–break, and chest–bumped Wade in Game 4 after the latter was fouled by [[Roy Hibbert]].

The following season saw improvements for both teams, from Miami's acquisitions of [[Ray Allen]] and [[Chris Andersen]], to the emergence of [[Paul George]] and [[Lance Stephenson]] in the absence of [[Danny Granger]] due to a season–ending injury. Notably, it was after the Heat lost to the Pacers that they compiled a 27–game winning streak; the last time the Heat lost two in a row in the year were the games against Indiana and Portland. During the waning minutes of Game 6 in the Semifinals between the Pacers and the [[New York Knicks]], the Pacers' fans were chanting "Beat The Heat" as their team beat their old [[Knicks–Pacers rivalry|New York rivals]]. True to form, the Heat and the Pacers met in the Conference Finals of the [[2013 NBA playoffs]] on May 22, 2013. Several instances of physicality became prominent in the series: [[Shane Battier]] received an offensive foul for throwing his knee at Hibbert's midsection; Hibbert claimed that it was intentional dirty play on the part of Battier. Andersen suffered a bloodied nose after colliding with [[David West (basketball)|David West]]. [[Ian Mahinmi]] received a retroactive flagrant foul for a grab of James' arm. [[Norris Cole]] latched a hand on West's groin area as he tried to slip through West. Wade received a retroactive flagrant foul for hitting Stephenson in the head, another incident that the Pacers, notably Paul George, felt was a dirty play. The Heat survived Game 1 on a James game–winning layup, while the Pacers came back to tie the series at 1–1 after forcing James into two late fourth–quarter turnovers for Game 2. In Game 3, the Heat set a team record for points in a post–season half with 70. It was the first time the Pacers had given up 70 points since 1992. Allen's single turnover was the least ever suffered by the Heat in a first half. Their five total turnovers is tied for the fewest in franchise history. The Game 3 victory marked the first time that an NBA team had won five straight road games by double digits. The Heat won the series 4–3, with a 99–76 win in game 7, eventually becoming [[2013 NBA Finals|2013 NBA Champions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20130603/INDMIA/gameinfo.html?ls=pot |title=Pacers at Heat – June 3, 2013 – Game Preview, Play by Play, Scores and Recap on |work=Nba.com |access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref>

In the [[2014 NBA playoffs]], the Pacers and Heat renewed their rivalry in a second consecutive [[NBA Conference Finals|Eastern Conference Finals]] match up. Indiana entered the series with home court advantage, having earned the 1st seed in the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]], with a 56–26 record during the [[2013–14 Indiana Pacers season|2013–14 season]]. Indiana's core players from this series included [[Paul George]], [[David West (basketball)|David West]], [[Lance Stephenson]], [[George Hill (basketball)|George Hill]], [[Roy Hibbert]], and new acquisitions, [[Evan Turner]], [[Luis Scola]], and [[Andrew Bynum]]. Likewise, Miami's key players again consisted of [[LeBron James]], [[Dwyane Wade]], [[Chris Bosh]], [[Ray Allen]], [[Mario Chalmers]], as well as newcomers [[Greg Oden]] and [[Michael Beasley]]. Even though the Pacers were viewed as legitimate title contenders, Miami eliminated Indiana again, this time in 6 games.

In [[2022–23 NBA season|2023]], the last players active on either team was [[Udonis Haslem]] on the Heat and [[George Hill (basketball)|George Hill]] on the Pacers, who both competed in all three [[2012 NBA playoffs|2012]], [[2013 NBA playoffs|2013]], and [[2014 NBA playoffs|2014]] playoff series.

Indiana and Miami would meet again for the first time since [[2014 NBA playoffs|2014]] in the [[2020 NBA playoffs]] with the Heat sweeping the Pacers in the first round. Indiana was led by [[Victor Oladipo]], [[Malcolm Brogdon]], [[T.J. Warren]] and [[Myles Turner]]. The Heat were led by [[Jimmy Butler]], [[Bam Adebayo]], [[Goran Dragić]], and [[Tyler Herro]], who ended up reaching the [[2020 NBA Finals]]. Indiana sustained significant injuries preventing [[2020 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star]] [[Domantas Sabonis]] and [[Jeremy Lamb]] from playing in the [[2020 NBA Bubble]].