1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 22nd season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season as a franchise.^[1] The Pacers received the twelfth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Austin Croshere out of Providence College.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team hired former Indiana State University, and Boston Celtics All-Star legend Larry Bird as their new head coach,^[5][6][7] acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors,^[8][9][10] and signed free agent Mark West;^[11][12] Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.^[13][14]

1997–98 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Larry Bird
President	Donnie Walsh
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Owners	Herbert Simon Melvin Simon
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	58–24 (.707)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Eastern Conference finals (lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV Fox Sports Midwest
Radio	WIBC
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

The Pacers struggled early in the regular season losing five of their first seven games, but then won 15 of their next 18 games, and held the best record in the Eastern Conference at 33–13 before the All-Star break.^[15] The Pacers won nine of their final eleven games of the season, and returned to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence, finishing in second place in the Central Division with a 58–24 record, and earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference;^[16] it was also the first time since joining the NBA that the Pacers finished with a winning road record. The Pacers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.^[17]

Reggie Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 19.5 points per game, led them with 164 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Rik Smits averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Mullin provided the team with 11.3 points per game and 107 three-point field goals. In addition, Dale Davis provided with 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and Mark Jackson contributed 8.3 points and 8.7 assists per game. Off the bench, sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Jalen Rose contributed 9.4 points per game, Travis Best provided with 6.5 points and 3.4 assists per game, and Derrick McKey contributed 6.3 points per game,^[18] but only played 57 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.^[19][20]

Miller, Smits and coach Bird represented the Eastern Conference during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York; it was also Smits's only All-Star appearance.^[21][22][23] Miller was also booed by the fans at Madison Square Garden during the All-Star introductions, due to the Knicks–Pacers rivalry.^[24] Miller and Smits both finished tied in sixteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Rose finished tied in thirteenth place in Most Improved Player voting.^[25] Bird was named the NBA Coach of the Year, after leading the Pacers to a 19-game improvement over the previous season.^[26][27][28]

In the 1998 NBA playoffs, the Pacers would defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers, three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round,^[29][30][31] then defeat the 7th-seeded New York Knicks, four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.^[32][33][34] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers faced off against the 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, featuring Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, under the coaching of Phil Jackson. In a hard-fought series, the Pacers fell behind 2–0 and then 3–2, but won all of their home games (Games 3, 4 and 6) to force a Game 7.^[35][36][37] In the decider, the Pacers held a 72–69 lead with 8:54 left in the game, but lost to the Bulls, 88–83.^[38][39][40] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the 1998 NBA Finals for their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years.^[41][42][43]

Following the season, West signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks,^[44][45] and Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire regular season due to a knee injury, was released to free agency and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the next season.^[46][47]

A notable highlight of the regular season was the Pacers defeating the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 124–59 at the Market Square Arena on February 27, 1998, which marked the first time in NBA history that a team scored twice as more points than its opponent.^[48][49][50]

For the season, the team sported new pinstripe uniforms with golden yellow side panels, which would remain in use until 2005.^[51][52]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	12	Austin Croshere	SF/PF	United States	Providence

Roster

1997–98 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 4 Travis Best 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972–07–12 Georgia Tech F 21 Etdrick Bohannon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1973–05–29 Auburn Montgomery F 44 Austin Croshere 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence F/C 33 Antonio Davis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–10–31 UTEP F/C 32 Dale Davis 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–03–25 Clemson G 20 Fred Hoiberg 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972–10–15 Iowa State G 13 Mark Jackson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's F 9 Derrick McKey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1966–10–10 Alabama G 31 Reggie Miller 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA F 17 Chris Mullin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963–07–30 St. John's F 43 Mark Pope 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–09–11 Kentucky F 5 Jalen Rose 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–01–30 Michigan C 45 Rik Smits 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist C 41 Mark West 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion G 3 Haywoode Workman (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–01–23 Oral Roberts

Head coach Larry Bird Assistant(s) Rick Carlisle Dick Harter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster Updated: September 8, 1997

Roster Notes

• Point guard Haywoode Workman was on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury, and missed the entire regular season.

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–	37–4	25–16	21–7
x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4	32–9	26–15	19–9
x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11	32–9	19–22	16–12
x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12	29–12	21–20	19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15	27–14	20–21	14–14
Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25	25–16	12–29	12–16
Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26	21–20	15–26	9–19
Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46	9–32	7–34	2–26

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Chicago Bulls	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Miami Heat	55	27	.671	7
3	x-Indiana Pacers	58	24	.707	4
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	51	31	.622	11
5	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	12
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	47	35	.573	15
7	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	19
8	x-New Jersey Nets	43	39	.524	19
9	Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	20
10	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	21
11	Detroit Pistons	37	45	.451	25
12	Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	26
13	Milwaukee Bucks	36	46	.439	26
14	Philadelphia 76ers	31	51	.378	31
15	Toronto Raptors	16	66	.195	46

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	4–0
Boston	1–2	–	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
Charlotte	0–4	2–1	–	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Chicago	3–1	3–1	3–1	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–1
Cleveland	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–2
Dallas	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	0–2	0–2	2–2
Golden State	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	–	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	–	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	0–4	3–1	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	–	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	–	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	–	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	–	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–2
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	–	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
Orlando	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–4	–	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–4	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	–	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–3	–	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	–	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	–	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Toronto	0–4	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	1–1	0–3
Utah	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	–	4–0	0–2
Vancouver	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1997–98 game log Total: 58–24 (home: 31–10; road: 27–14)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31, 1997 @ New Jersey L 95–97 Continental Airlines Arena 0–1
November: 8–5 (home: 5–3; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1, 1997 Golden State W 96–83 Market Square Arena 1–1 3 November 4, 1997 @ Cleveland L 77–80 Gund Arena 1–2 4 November 5, 1997 @ Detroit W 99–87 The Palace of Auburn Hills 2–2 5 November 7, 1997 Seattle L 93–99 Market Square Arena 2–3 6 November 8, 1997 @ Charlotte L 82–89 Charlotte Coliseum 2–4 7 November 12, 1997 Atlanta L 86–89 Market Square Arena 2–5 8 November 14, 1997 Miami W 82–78 Market Square Arena 3–5 9 November 15, 1997 @ Toronto W 105–77 SkyDome 4–5 10 November 20, 1997 @ Milwaukee W 109–83 Bradley Center 5–5 11 November 22, 1997 Charlotte L 94–95 Market Square Arena 5–6 12 November 27, 1997 Vancouver W 106–85 Market Square Arena 6–6 13 November 28, 1997 Chicago W 94–83 Market Square Arena 7–6 14 November 30, 1997 Philadelphia W 101–89 Market Square Arena 8–6
December: 11–4 (home: 6–0; road: 5–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 3, 1997 @ Minnesota W 94–90 Target Center 9–6 16 December 5, 1997 @ Denver W 96–85 McNichols Sports Arena 10–6 17 December 7, 1997 @ Phoenix W 99–97 (OT) America West Arena 11–6 18 December 8, 1997 @ Utah L 97–106 Delta Center 11–7 19 December 10, 1997 @ Portland L 85–93 Rose Garden 11–8 20 December 12, 1997 Miami W 104–89 Market Square Arena 12–8 21 December 13, 1997 Washington W 109–92 Market Square Arena 13–8 22 December 15, 1997 @ Toronto W 108–101 SkyDome 14–8 23 December 17, 1997 New York W 87–80 Market Square Arena 15–8 24 December 19, 1997 Detroit W 98–90 Market Square Arena 16–8 25 December 20, 1997 @ Orlando W 95–92 Orlando Arena 17–8 26 December 23, 1997 @ San Antonio L 79–91 Alamodome 17–9 27 December 26, 1997 Orlando W 107–81 Market Square Arena 18–9 28 December 28, 1997 @ Miami L 90–101 Miami Arena 18–10 29 December 30, 1997 New Jersey W 109–91 Market Square Arena 19–10
January: 12–2 (home: 7–1; road: 5–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 30 January 2, 1998 @ Washington W 99–81 MCI Center 20–10 31 January 3, 1998 Toronto W 89–77 Market Square Arena 21–10 32 January 6, 1998 Phoenix L 80–81 Market Square Arena 21–11 33 January 8, 1998 @ Houston W 87–80 Compaq Center 22–11 34 January 10, 1998 @ Dallas W 84–79 Reunion Arena 23–11 35 January 14, 1998 Detroit W 100–93 Market Square Arena 24–11 36 January 16, 1998 Sacramento W 117–92 Market Square Arena 25–11 37 January 18, 1998 @ Boston W 103–96 FleetCenter 26–11 38 January 21, 1998 @ New York L 89–97 Madison Square Garden 26–12 39 January 23, 1998 Utah W 106–102 Market Square Arena 27–12 40 January 24, 1998 Boston W 95–88 Market Square Arena 28–12 41 January 27, 1998 Washington W 85–84 Market Square Arena 29–12 42 January 28, 1998 @ Philadelphia W 93–90 (OT) CoreStates Center 30–12 43 January 30, 1998 Cleveland W 89–83 Market Square Arena 31–12
February: 8–5 (home: 3–2; road: 5–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1, 1998 @ L.A. Clippers W 99–92 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 32–12 45 February 3, 1998 @ Sacramento W 115–93 ARCO Arena 33–12 46 February 4, 1998 @ Seattle L 97–104 KeyArena 33–13 All-Star Break 47 February 10, 1998 Orlando W 85–66 Market Square Arena 34–13 48 February 11, 1998 @ Miami W 110–101 Miami Arena 35–13 49 February 13, 1998 Dallas L 82–85 (2OT) Market Square Arena 35–14 50 February 14, 1998 @ Atlanta W 96–92 Georgia Dome 36–14 51 February 17, 1998 @ Chicago L 97–105 United Center 36–15 52 February 19, 1998 Philadelphia W 82–77 Market Square Arena 37–15 53 February 20, 1998 @ Orlando L 91–93 Orlando Arena 37–16 54 February 22, 1998 @ Philadelphia W 97–92 CoreStates Center 38–16 55 February 25, 1998 L.A. Lakers L 89–96 Market Square Arena 38–17 56 February 27, 1998 Portland W 124–59 Market Square Arena 39–17
March: 11–5 (home: 6–3; road: 5–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 1, 1998 Denver W 90–63 Market Square Arena 40–17 58 March 3, 1998 @ Vancouver W 111–103 General Motors Place 41–17 59 March 4, 1998 @ L.A. Lakers L 95–104 Great Western Forum 41–18 60 March 6, 1998 @ Golden State W 101–87 The Arena in Oakland 42–18 61 March 8, 1998 Boston W 104–100 Market Square Arena 43–18 62 March 11, 1998 @ Detroit L 91–122 The Palace of Auburn Hills 43–19 63 March 13, 1998 Milwaukee W 96–76 Market Square Arena 44–19 64 March 15, 1998 @ New York W 91–86 Madison Square Garden 45–19 65 March 17, 1998 Chicago L 84–90 Market Square Arena 45–20 66 March 19, 1998 @ Washington W 95–91 MCI Center 46–20 67 March 20, 1998 New Jersey W 99–92 Market Square Arena 47–20 68 March 22, 1998 @ Milwaukee W 96–94 (OT) Bradley Center 48–20 69 March 25, 1998 Houston L 81–86 Market Square Arena 48–21 70 March 27, 1998 Charlotte W 133–96 Market Square Arena 49–21 71 March 29, 1998 San Antonio L 55–74 Market Square Arena 49–22 72 March 31, 1998 L.A. Clippers W 128–106 Market Square Arena 50–22
April: 9–1 (home: 5–0; road: 4–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 73 April 2, 1998 Minnesota W 111–108 Market Square Arena 51–22 74 April 3, 1998 @ Charlotte L 89–96 Charlotte Coliseum 51–23 75 April 5, 1998 Milwaukee W 93–92 Market Square Arena 52–23 76 April 7, 1998 Cleveland W 82–80 Market Square Arena 53–23 77 April 9, 1998 @ Atlanta W 105–102 (OT) Georgia Dome 54–23 78 April 12, 1998 @ Boston W 93–87 FleetCenter 55–23 79 April 13, 1998 @ Chicago W 114–105 United Center 56–23 80 April 15, 1998 Atlanta W 82–70 Market Square Arena 57–23 81 April 17, 1998 Toronto W 107–98 Market Square Arena 58–23 82 April 18, 1998 @ Cleveland L 92–96 Gund Arena 58–24
1997–98 schedule

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 23, 1998 Cleveland W 106–77 Mullin (20) Mullin (6) Jackson (10) Market Square Arena 16,644 1–0 2 April 25, 1998 Cleveland W 92–86 Miller (18) D. Davis (10) Jackson (11) Market Square Arena 16,617 2–0 3 April 27, 1998 @ Cleveland L 77–86 Smits (26) D. Davis (9) Jackson (17) Gund Arena 17,495 2–1 4 April 30, 1998 @ Cleveland W 80–74 Miller (19) A. Davis (9) Jackson (6) Gund Arena 18,188 3–1
Eastern Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 5, 1998 New York W 93–83 Miller (17) D. Davis (11) Jackson (6) Market Square Arena 16,630 1–0 2 May 7, 1998 New York W 85–77 Smits (22) D. Davis (9) Jackson (5) Market Square Arena 16,765 2–0 3 May 9, 1998 @ New York L 76–83 Miller (23) D. Davis (9) Jackson (9) Madison Square Garden 19,763 2–1 4 May 10, 1998 @ New York W 118–107 (OT) Miller (38) A. Davis (9) Jackson (15) Madison Square Garden 19,763 3–1 5 May 13, 1998 New York W 99–88 Miller (24) Jackson (14) Jackson (13) Market Square Arena 16,767 4–1
Eastern Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 17, 1998 @ Chicago L 79–85 Miller (16) A. Davis (11) Jackson (6) United Center 23,844 0–1 2 May 19, 1998 @ Chicago L 98–104 Miller (19) D. Davis (9) Jackson (8) United Center 23,844 0–2 3 May 23, 1998 Chicago W 107–105 Miller (28) A. Davis (12) Jackson, Rose (6) Market Square Arena 16,576 1–2 4 May 25, 1998 Chicago W 96–94 Smits (26) Mullin (9) Jackson (7) Market Square Arena 16,560 2–2 5 May 27, 1998 @ Chicago L 87–106 Miller (14) A. Davis, Smits (7) Jackson (5) United Center 23,844 2–3 6 May 29, 1998 Chicago W 92–89 Smits (25) D. Davis (8) Best, A. Davis, Jackson (3) Market Square Arena 16,566 3–3 7 May 31, 1998 @ Chicago L 83–88 Miller (22) A. Davis (10) Jackson (6) United Center 23,844 3–4
1998 schedule

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mark Jackson	PG	82	82	2,413	322	713	84	2	678	29.4	3.9	8.7	1.0	.0	8.3
Chris Mullin	SF	82	82	2,177	249	186	95	39	927	26.5	3.0	2.3	1.2	.5	11.3
Antonio Davis	PF	82	12	2,191	560	61	45	72	785	26.7	6.8	.7	.5	.9	9.6
Jalen Rose	SF	82	0	1,706	195	155	56	14	771	20.8	2.4	1.9	.7	.2	9.4
Travis Best	PG	82	0	1,547	122	281	85	5	535	18.9	1.5	3.4	1.0	.1	6.5
Reggie Miller	SG	81	81	2,795	232	171	78	11	1,578	34.5	2.9	2.1	1.0	.1	19.5
Dale Davis	C	78	78	2,174	611	70	51	87	626	27.9	7.8	.9	.7	1.1	8.0
Rik Smits	C	73	69	2,085	505	101	40	88	1,216	28.6	6.9	1.4	.5	1.2	16.7
Fred Hoiberg	SG	65	1	874	123	45	40	3	261	13.4	1.9	.7	.6	.0	4.0
Derrick McKey	SF	57	4	1,316	211	88	57	30	359	23.1	3.7	1.5	1.0	.5	6.3
Mark Pope	SF	28	0	193	26	7	3	6	39	6.9	.9	.3	.1	.2	1.4
Austin Croshere	PF	26	0	243	45	8	9	5	76	9.3	1.7	.3	.3	.2	2.9
Mark West	C	15	1	105	15	2	2	4	23	7.0	1.0	.1	.1	.3	1.5
Etdrick Bohannon	PF	5	0	11	6	1	0	2	0	2.2	1.2	.2	.0	.4	.0

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Reggie Miller	SG	16	16	628	28	32	19	3	319	39.3	1.8	2.0	1.2	.2	19.9
Mark Jackson	PG	16	16	494	73	133	23	0	147	30.9	4.6	8.3	1.4	.0	9.2
Rik Smits	C	16	16	476	85	20	8	14	265	29.8	5.3	1.3	.5	.9	16.6
Dale Davis	C	16	16	466	120	12	5	18	141	29.1	7.5	.8	.3	1.1	8.8
Chris Mullin	SF	16	16	412	57	23	15	9	142	25.8	3.6	1.4	.9	.6	8.9
Antonio Davis	PF	16	0	459	108	14	12	18	147	28.7	6.8	.9	.8	1.1	9.2
Travis Best	PG	16	0	280	16	31	11	3	97	17.5	1.0	1.9	.7	.2	6.1
Jalen Rose	SF	15	0	293	27	28	11	6	122	19.5	1.8	1.9	.7	.4	8.1
Derrick McKey	SF	15	0	284	40	11	9	8	67	18.9	2.7	.7	.6	.5	4.5
Mark Pope	SF	7	0	42	5	1	1	0	9	6.0	.7	.1	.1	.0	1.3
Mark West	C	4	0	11	1	0	0	0	3	2.8	.3	.0	.0	.0	.8
Fred Hoiberg	SG	2	0	20	4	1	1	0	9	10.0	2.0	.5	.5	.0	4.5

Awards

• Larry Bird, NBA Coach of the Year Award
• Larry Bird, All-Star East Head Coach
• Reggie Miller, NBA All-Star Game
• Rik Smits, NBA All-Star Game
• Reggie Miller, All-NBA Third Team

Transactions

See also

• 1997–98 NBA season