8 points in 9 seconds (also known as 8 points in 8.9 seconds) occurred in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA playoffsEastern Conference Semifinals pitting the New York Knicks against the Indiana Pacers. The game was played on May 7, 1995, at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was televised on NBC. With 18.7 seconds remaining and the Pacers trailing 105–99, Indiana star shooting guard Reggie Miller took the inbound pass from Mark Jackson, made a three-pointer, then stole the inbound pass from Anthony Mason on the ensuing possession, dribbled back behind the arc and tied the game with another three, stunning the crowd home New York crowd. On the next possession, Knicks guard John Starks was fouled by Sam Mitchell. Starks missed both free throws, and although Patrick Ewing managed to get the offensive rebound, his shot was just a bit long and hit the back rim. Miller got the rebound and was fouled with 7.5 seconds left, where he made both free throws. Trailing by two, the Knicks had one last chance to tie or win the game but failed to get a shot off, giving the Pacers a shocking 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.[1] Eight points in nine seconds gave Miller the reputation as a "Knicks Killer" and it has been considered one of the most iconic moments in the NBA playoffs.[2][3]
This was a continuation of the Knicks–Pacers rivalry that started in the 1993 Eastern Conference First Round when Starks headbutted Miller, leading to his ejection.[4] After the Pacers won the 1995 series, their first in three tries against the Knicks, the rivalry would continue in the playoffs in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The rivalry in the 1990s between the two teams has been referred to as one of the best NBA rivalries from that era.[5][6]
Context
In 1995, the Knicks and Pacers were facing off in their third playoff in any as years. The two prior meetings had been known not so much for the basketball played on the court, but for the drama and shenanigans surrounding the game. In the 1993 First Round, the upstart Pacers played the 60-win #1 seed New York Knicks, who were coming off pushing the defending and eventual champion Chicago Bulls to seven games in the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals. According to Miller, before the game, for sportsmanship, he went to shake Starks' hand, but Starks would not accept it. Miller recalled in ESPN's 30 for 30Winning Time. "I'm like, 'What's up with that?' I had no problems with John before that, so I was like, 'Oh, okay, I see what's going on here.' From that point on, I made it a mission. I'm gonna embarrass this kid."[7] Miller proceeded to trash talk at Starks for most of the game. Once the game got out of hand for the Knicks, Starks, seemingly at his wits end, headbutted Miller. Starks was ejected from the game and the Pacers would eventually win, before losing Game 4 in overtime, thus ending their season.[8]
By 1994, both the Knicks and Pacers had aspirations of a championship, as 1993–94 was the first season of Michael Jordan' s short year and a half retirement.[9] Jordan and the Bulls had had a stranglehold over the league, winning three consecutive championships. Despite Jordan's absences, the Knicks had a struggle with the Scottie Pippen-led Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but still prevailed in seven games.[10] Waiting for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals were the Pacers, who upset the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals match-up.
Both teams won their first two home games. However, in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, Miller scored 39 points (25 in the fourth) in the Pacers' 93–86 victory. Miller hit several long 3's during the quarter while engaging in an animated discussion with Spike Lee, who was seated courtside. After Indiana took a 3–2 series lead with the victory, the New York Daily News ran a cover story with Lee's picture and the sarcastic headline, "Thanks A Lot, Spike".[11] Despite this dramatic moment, the Pacers would lose Game 6 at Market Square Arena and Game 7 in New York. Miller received criticism from the media for his "choke sign" after not finishing off the Knicks and not winning the series.[12] Nether team would win in Jordan's year away from the NBA, as the Knicks lost in the Finals to the Houston Rockets in seven games.[13]
In the off-season leading up to the 1994–95 season, the rivalry further intensified when the Pacers traded for former Knick and New York-native Mark Jackson.[14]
8 points in 9 seconds
Reggie Miller, with the help of the Knicks' mistakes, brought the Pacers back and turned a six-point deficit with 18.7 left in the game, to a two-point win.
Like most of the Knicks versus Pacers playoff games, Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals was a physical, yet close affair. In the second quarter, the Pacers started to break away with a 54–44 lead at halftime. The Knicks fought back and took control of the game midway fourth quarter. Ultimately, the Pacers found themselves behind 105–99 with 18.7 seconds left and looking at their third straight Game 1 loss to the Knicks in as many years.
With the ball at their side of the court, head coach Larry Brown designed a play to get Miller open for a quick three-point shot and it worked, as Miller got the shot off over a trailing Starks to cut the Knicks lead to three. Mason, described by assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy as the team's worst inbound passer,[15] proceeded to pass the ball to what seemed like a wide open Greg Anthony. Anthony slipped, with Miller also shoving him, but the referees did not call a foul. Anthony's bad pass was intercepted by Miller, he tip-toed behind the left three-point line and made the shot to tie the game.[16] In the heat of the moment, Mitchell accidentally fouled Starks. Jackson and Miller talked trash at Starks before the free throw, and they felt he wanted no part in taking the crucial free throws.[17] Starks, who was admittedly in shock at the proceeding events, missed both free throws.[18] Ewing got the rebound off of Starks' second free throw miss and failed to make the put-back. Miller rebounded Ewing's shot and was hacked by the Knicks. Miller made both free throws with 7 seconds left remaining to put the Pacers on top. The Knicks had one final possession, but were not able to get a shot attempt off, giving Indiana the 107–105 win.[19] With the win, Pacers won their first Game 1 against the Knicks in the last three playoffs.
Aftermath and legacy
At practice the later that day, Phoenix Suns star forward Charles Barkely was asked his thoughts about the Pacers comeback win over the Knicks. Barkley responded with, "wait, the Pacers won that game?".[20][21]
The 1995 playoff series between the two rivals was arguably the best of the six playoff series from this era of teams. Game 3 and 5 were both nail baiters, with the Pacers prevailing by two points in Game 3 and the Knicks winning by one in Game 5.[22][23] In Game 7, the Pacers won in New York 97–95, after Ewing missed a potential game-tying layup as time expired.[24] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers lost another classic seven-game-series to the Orlando Magic.
While seen as one of the best comebacks in NBA history, Game 1 was simultaneously seen as a Knicks choke job that came to define this era of Knicks basketball.[25][26] Knicks head coach Pat Riley resigned the day after the 1995 NBA Finals ended (and in the process, creating the Heat–Knicks rivalry from this era), and Don Nelson, who had recently stepped down as the Golden State Warriors head coach, became Riley's successor. In 1995–96, Jeff Van Gundy replaced Nelson after just 59 games with the Knicks.[27]
Largely due to this game, Miller earned the nickname "Knick Killer", although Knicks fans are quick to point out he held a 44–58 overall record against the Knicks (including playoffs) throughout his career.[28]
The Pacers and Knicks from this era played each other three more times. In 1998, 1999, and 2000. The Knicks won in 1999, while the Pacers won in 1998 and 2000. In 1999, the Knicks made the Finals before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in five games; a year later, the Pacers made their first trip to the NBA Finals, before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks, a documentary film by ESPN's 30 for 30 series released in 2010, covered the eight points in nine seconds, as well as the Knicks–Pacers rivalry in depth.[29]
In 2020, The Athletic named it the 20th best comeback in sports history as part of their 40 Greatest Comebacks series.[30][31]
Comparison with the 2025 Pacers' playoff comebacks
The 2024–25 Pacers were well known for their unexpected comebacks throughout the playoffs, such as Game 5 against the Bucks, Game 2 against the Cavaliers, Game 1 against the Knicks, and Game 1 of the Finals against the Thunder.
In the First Round, the Pacers met the Milwaukee Bucks, a rematch from the previous year's first round. They won the series in five games, highlighted by a 7-point, 40-second comeback in overtime in Game 5.[32] The Pacers then upset the 64-win, top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games, which was again highlighted by an unlikely comeback when they won Game 2 on a Tyrese Haliburton game-winning three after being down 7 points with 46 seconds left.[33] The Pacers' third improbable comeback occurred against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals: down 14 with 2:45 left, Haliburton's clutch shot forced the game in overtime, where the Pacers were able to win the game. Indiana was the first team in the play-by-play era (1996–97–present) to win a game in which they were trailing by 14 points or more with 2:45 left in the game.[34][35] In the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Thunder held a 96.4% win probability with a nine-point lead and 2:52 remaining. However, the Pacers crawled back and Haliburton once again nailed a clutch 21-foot pull-up jump shot to give the Pacers the 111–110 win.
Due to their comebacks, the Pacers were widely considered to have one of the most improbable playoff runs in NBA history.[36] Additionally, Haliburton's heroics were often compared to Miller's.[37][38] Against the Knicks in Game, Haliburton did the "choke" celebration reminiscent to Miller's same celebration towards Spike Lee in 1994.[39] Miller, by then working for TNT Sports, was doing color analyst for the Pacers comeback.[40]
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