Suvarna Garge (Editor)

1998–99 Indiana Pacers season

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Head coach
  
Larry Bird

Arena
  
Market Square Arena

General manager
  
Donnie Walsh

Record
  
33–17 (.660)

Place
  
Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern)

Playoff finish
  
Lost to New York Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals (2–4)

The 1998–99 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's 23rd season in the NBA and 32nd season as a franchise. The Pacers entered the season as a heavy favorite, because Michael Jordan retired and other members of the Chicago Bulls were broken up by their management. During the offseason, the team signed free agent Sam Perkins, who played in the 1991 NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the 1996 NBA Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics. After a four-month lockout, the Pacers won the Central Division with a record of 33 wins and 17 losses.

Contents

In the playoffs, the Pacers swept the Milwaukee Bucks 3–0 in the first round, and the Philadelphia 76ers 4–0 in the semifinals. The Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season, and the fourth time in six seasons. Once again, the Pacers were up against the New York Knicks. Despite being the 8th-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks upset the Pacers in six games to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in six seasons. It was also the final season the Pacers played at Market Square Arena, moving to the Conseco Fieldhouse the following season. Also following the season, Antonio Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors.

For the season, the Pacers added gold pinstripe alternate road uniforms which lasted until 2005.

z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot

East First Round

(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks: Pacers win series 3-0

  • Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 9): Indiana 110, Milwaukee 88
  • Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 11): Indiana 108, Milwaukee 107 (OT)
  • Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 13): Indiana 99, Milwaukee 91

    • Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Pacers and Bucks.

    East Conference Semifinals

    (2) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers: Pacers win series 4-0

  • Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 17): Indiana 94, Philadelphia 90
  • Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 19): Indiana 85, Philadelphia 82
  • Game 3 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 21): Indiana 97, Philadelphia 86
  • Game 4 @ First Union Center, Philadelphia (May 23): Indiana 89, Philadelphia 86

    • Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Eastern Conference First Round (Philadelphia won 2-0)

    East Conference Finals

    (2) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 4-2

  • Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 30): New York 93, Indiana 90
  • Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 1): Indiana 88, New York 86
  • Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 5): New York 92, Indiana 91 (Larry Johnson's game-winning 4-point play with 5.7 seconds left)
  • Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 7): Indiana 90, New York 78
  • Game 5 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (June 9): New York 101, Indiana 94
  • Game 6 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 11): New York 90, Indiana 82

    • Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-1)

    References

    1998–99 Indiana Pacers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA