Editing Reggie Miller (section)

===Mid-career (1993–2000)===
Miller became a household name during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the [[1993–94 New York Knicks season|Knicks]], due to a phenomenal shooting performance in Game 5 on June 1, 1994, in which he scored 39 points (25 in the fourth quarter alone) in the Pacers' 93–86 victory at [[Madison Square Garden]]. Miller made several long 3-pointers during the quarter and engaged in an animated discussion of his ongoing performance with noted Knicks fan [[Spike Lee]], who was, as always, seated courtside. The win gave the Pacers a 3–2 series lead over the heavily favored Knicks, but they lost the next two games and the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1994-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-knicks.html|title=1994 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Pacers vs. Knicks|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121160450/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1994-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-knicks.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Spike Lee 1.jpg|alt=|thumb|upright|Miller's public feud with film director [[Spike Lee]] generated controversy for several years in the NBA playoffs.]]

===="Eight points in nine seconds"====
On May 7, 1995, Miller scored eight unanswered points in 8.9 seconds in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the [[1994–95 New York Knicks season|Knicks]], leading the Pacers to a 107–105 victory.<ref name="NBAEightNine">{{cite web|author=Wheat Hotchkiss|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/i-almost-fell-over-oral-history-reggie-miller-8-points-9-seconds#:~:text=On%20May%207%2C%201995%2C%20Reggie,of%20the%20Eastern%20Conference%20Semifinals.|title="I Almost Fell Over": An Oral History of Reggie Miller's 8 Points in 9 Seconds|work=[[NBA.com]]|date=May 7, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110013957/https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/i-almost-fell-over-oral-history-reggie-miller-8-points-9-seconds#:~:text=On%20May%207%2C%201995%2C%20Reggie,of%20the%20Eastern%20Conference%20Semifinals.|url-status=live}}</ref> With 18.7 seconds remaining and the Pacers trailing 105–99, Miller took the inbound pass from [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]], made a 3-pointer, stole the inbound pass from [[Anthony Mason (basketball)|Anthony Mason]], dribbled back behind the arc and tied the game with another 3, stunning the crowd at Madison Square Garden.<ref name="NBAEightNine"/> On the ensuing possession, Knicks guard [[John Starks (basketball)|John Starks]] was fouled by [[Sam Mitchell (basketball)|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.<ref name="NBAEightNine"/> Miller got the rebound and was fouled with 7.5 seconds left. He made both free throws. Trailing by 2, New York had one last chance to win the game but failed to get a shot off, giving the Pacers a shocking 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.<ref name="NBAEightNine"/>

The Pacers outlasted the Knicks in seven games before losing to the [[1994–95 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]] in the Conference Finals in seven games, just like the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1995-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-magic.html|title=1995 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Pacers vs. Magic|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121114643/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1995-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-magic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Near the end of the [[1995–96 NBA season|1996 season]], Miller fell to the floor and suffered an eye injury, leaving him unable to play in the playoffs until Game 5 of the first round against the [[1995–96 Atlanta Hawks season|Atlanta Hawks]], where he wore goggles until the Pacers were eliminated.<ref name="top100">{{cite web| last =Weinberg| first =Rick| title =90: Reggie Miller scores 8 points in 11 seconds| work =ESPN.com| date =June 9, 2004| url =https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/90| access-date =December 6, 2007| archive-date =March 13, 2007| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070313003051/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/90| url-status =live}}</ref> Around this time, Miller hosted a talk show on [[WTHR]] called ''The Reggie Miller Show''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HuoCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 |title=Indianapolis Monthly – Google Books |date= March 1996|access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref> 

After missing the playoffs in the [[1996–97 NBA season|1997 season]], the Pacers returned to the postseason in [[1997–98 NBA season|1998]]. They defeated the [[1997–98 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-cavaliers-vs-pacers.html|title=1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Cavaliers vs. Pacers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122135117/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-cavaliers-vs-pacers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[1997–98 New York Knicks season|Knicks]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|title=1998 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Knicks vs. Pacers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122135120/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> en route to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they faced [[Michael Jordan]] and the defending champion [[1997–98 Chicago Bulls season|Bulls]]. On May 25, 1998, the Pacers trailed [[Chicago Bulls|Chicago]] 2–1 in the series and were behind 94–93 in Game 4 at home in [[Market Square Arena]] with 2.9 seconds left. Miller got free from [[Michael Jordan|Jordan]], caught the inbound pass from [[Derrick McKey]], turned and made a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds to go. The Pacers eventually pushed the series to [[List of NBA game sevens|Game 7]] in Chicago, where the Pacers led in the fourth quarter before fading in the final two minutes. The Bulls won 88–83<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-bulls.html|title=1998 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Pacers vs. Bulls|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204032935/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-bulls.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and went on to win their sixth and final championship of the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen era.

With Jordan retired, Miller and the Pacers were considered a favorite in the East heading into the lockout-shortened [[1998–99 NBA season|1999 season]]. After earning the No. 2 seed in the East, the Pacers once again met the [[1998–99 New York Knicks season|Knicks]] in the Eastern Conference Finals, where the eighth-seeded Knicks upset the Pacers in six games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|title=1999 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Knicks vs. Pacers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=August 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811140444/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the decisive sixth game, Miller had one of the worst performances of his career, scoring just eight points on 3-of-18 shooting from the field. He missed all but one of his eight 3-point attempts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199906110NYK.html|title=Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks Box Score, June 11, 1999|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122140847/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199906110NYK.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====NBA Finals appearance====
[[File:Reggie2 2 work.tif|thumb|upright|Miller (right) taking a shot during Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.]]
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the [[1999–2000 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]] on May 6, 2000, Miller and teammate [[Jalen Rose]] each scored 40 points, becoming the highest-scoring pair of teammates in playoff history, in the Pacers' 108–91 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200005060IND.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers Box Score, May 6, 2000|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122142243/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200005060IND.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Pacers won that series 4–2 and returned to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in seven years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-76ers-vs-pacers.html|title=2000 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals 76ers vs. Pacers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026124121/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-76ers-vs-pacers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This time they finally broke through, defeating the rival [[1999–2000 New York Knicks season|Knicks]] 4–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|title=2000 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Knicks vs. Pacers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122142243/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-eastern-conference-finals-knicks-vs-pacers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Game 6 at [[Madison Square Garden]] on June 2, 2000, was sealed by Miller's 34 points, with 17 coming in the fourth quarter to help Indiana clinch the series with a 93–80 victory over the Knicks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200006020NYK.html|title=Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks Box Score, June 2, 2000|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=November 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122142244/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200006020NYK.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Pacers advanced to the [[2000 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]] for the first and only time in franchise history, facing the [[1999–2000 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]] led by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Kobe Bryant]]. The Pacers lost the series 4–2 as Miller averaged 24.3 points per game for the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-finals-pacers-vs-lakers.html|title=2000 NBA Finals Pacers vs. Lakers|publisher=[[Basketball-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424075240/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-finals-pacers-vs-lakers.html|url-status=live}}</ref>