The 1998-99 Indiana Pacers season was notable for its success during the lockout-shortened NBA campaign. Under the guidance of head coach Larry Bird, the Pacers finished the regular season with a 33-17 record, securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The team was led by veteran star Reggie Miller, who continued to be a crucial offensive weapon, and the strong inside presence of Rik Smits and Dale Davis.
In the playoffs, the Pacers demonstrated their strength, sweeping the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and overcoming the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals. Their journey continued as they faced the New York Knicks in a highly competitive Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Pacers fell short, losing to the Knicks in six games. Despite the playoff exit, the season marked another strong performance for the Pacers, solidifying their status as perennial contenders in the East during the late 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 33-17
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Eastern Conference Finals: 2-4
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1998-99 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Reggie Miller | 50 | 18.4 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 38.5 | 13 | 20.2 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Rik Smits | 49 | 14.9 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 13 | 11.8 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Jalen Rose | 49 | 11.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 26.2 | 13 | 12.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 34.8 |
| Chris Mullin | 50 | 10.1 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 46.5 | 13 | 9.5 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 40.0 |
| Antonio Davis | 49 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 13 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Dale Davis | 50 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 13 | 9.1 | 10.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 49 | 7.6 | 3.8 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 31.1 | 13 | 11.2 | 4.5 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 41.2 |
| Travis Best | 49 | 7.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 37.3 | 11 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 20.0 |
| Sam Perkins | 48 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 38.9 | 13 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 45.8 |
| Derrick McKey | 13 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 13 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Austin Croshere | 27 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 27.6 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Harrington | 21 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Hoiberg | 12 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Pope | 4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1999 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the first round of the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers, led by Reggie Miller's scoring prowess and a solid supporting cast including Rik Smits and Jalen Rose, showcased their dominance by sweeping the Bucks in a best-of-five series, 3-0. Indiana's strong defense and cohesive team play set the tone for their deep postseason run that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-88 | |
| May 11, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-107 | |
| May 13, 1999 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-91 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers demonstrated their prowess in the Eastern Conference by sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round. With Reggie Miller's sharpshooting and Jalen Rose's emerging talent, the Pacers showcased a balanced attack, blending experience and youth to overpower their opponents and secure their place in the Conference Finals. Indiana's defensive strength and strategic depth were key as they advanced further in their pursuit of an NBA Finals berth.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 1999 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 94-90 | |
| May 19, 1999 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 85-82 | |
| May 21, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-86 | |
| May 23, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 89-86 |
1999 Conference Championship vs. New York Knicks
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, showcasing their resilience and depth under head coach Larry Bird. Despite a valiant effort, they were ultimately defeated by the New York Knicks in a grueling six-game series. The Pacers' performance was marked by Reggie Miller's sharpshooting and the emergence of Jalen Rose as a key contributor, setting the stage for their eventual Finals appearance the following year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | L 93-90 | |
| Jun 01, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | W 88-86 | |
| Jun 05, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | L 92-91 | |
| Jun 07, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-78 | |
| Jun 09, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | L 101-94 | |
| Jun 11, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-82 |
Indiana Pacers 1998-99 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1998-99 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 05, 1999 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 96-81 | |
| Feb 07, 1999 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 107-98 | |
| Feb 08, 1999 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-89 | |
| Feb 10, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-92 | |
| Feb 11, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 101-97 | |
| Feb 14, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-99 | |
| Feb 16, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | L 89-78 | |
| Feb 18, 1999 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 99-95 | |
| Feb 20, 1999 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 82-80 | |
| Feb 21, 1999 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 80-79 | |
| Feb 24, 1999 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 104-84 | |
| Feb 25, 1999 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 81-74 | |
| Feb 26, 1999 | @ Orlando Magic | L 103-100 | |
| Mar 02, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 88-81 | |
| Mar 03, 1999 | @ Washington Wizards | W 106-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 102-83 | |
| Mar 07, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | W 85-72 | |
| Mar 10, 1999 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 93-82 | |
| Mar 12, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-104 | |
| Mar 14, 1999 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-96 | |
| Mar 16, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 85-79 | |
| Mar 17, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-110 | |
| Mar 19, 1999 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 96-87 | |
| Mar 20, 1999 | @ Miami Heat | W 94-89 | |
| Mar 22, 1999 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 90-86 | |
| Mar 24, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-102 | |
| Mar 26, 1999 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-91 | |
| Mar 28, 1999 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-93 | |
| Mar 29, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 83-82 | |
| Mar 30, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | L 94-93 | |
| Apr 01, 1999 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 88-87 | |
| Apr 02, 1999 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 87-81 | |
| Apr 04, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | W 108-95 | |
| Apr 05, 1999 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 88-86 | |
| Apr 07, 1999 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 91-74 | |
| Apr 09, 1999 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 102-101 | |
| Apr 10, 1999 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 92-90 | |
| Apr 12, 1999 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 109-99 | |
| Apr 14, 1999 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 83-80 | |
| Apr 16, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 93-83 | |
| Apr 18, 1999 | @ Miami Heat | L 92-88 | |
| Apr 19, 1999 | @ Boston Celtics | W 120-104 | |
| Apr 21, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-100 | |
| Apr 24, 1999 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 87-69 | |
| Apr 25, 1999 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-98 | |
| Apr 27, 1999 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 88-87 | |
| Apr 29, 1999 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 115-110 | |
| Apr 30, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 92-90 | |
| May 02, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | W 94-71 | |
| May 04, 1999 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-78 |