1998–99 Indiana Pacers season

The 1998–99 Indiana Pacers season was the 23rd season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 32nd season as a franchise.^[1] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.^[2]

1998–99 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coach	Larry Bird
President	Donnie Walsh
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Owners	Herbert Simon Melvin Simon
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	33–17 (.660)
Place	Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Eastern Conference finals (lost to Knicks 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV Fox Sports Midwest (Al Albert, Quinn Buckner, Clark Kellogg)
Radio	WIBC (Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard)
< 1997–98 1999–00 >

The Pacers entered the regular season as a heavy favorite to win the NBA championship, because the defending NBA champions Chicago Bulls were broken up by their management after Michael Jordan retired.^[3][4][5] During the off-season, the Pacers 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.^[6][7][8] The Pacers got off to a 15–5 start to the regular season, then won their final four games to capture the Central Division title with a 33–17 record, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference.^[9][10]

Reggie Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 18.4 points per game, and also led them with 106 three-point field goals, while Rik Smits averaged 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Chris Mullin provided the team with 10.3 points per game and 73 three-point field goals. In addition, sixth man Jalen Rose contributed 11.1 points per game off the bench, while other sixth man Antonio Davis provided with 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Dale Davis averaged 8.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, Mark Jackson provided with 7.6 points and 7.9 assists per game, Travis Best contributed 7.1 points and 3.4 assists per game, Perkins averaged 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, and Derrick McKey provided with 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, but only played just 13 games due to injury.^[11] Jackson finished tied in 16th place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[12] while Rose and Antonio Davis both finished tied in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[13][12]

In the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Pacers swept the Milwaukee Bucks, 3–0 in the Eastern Conference First Round,^[14][15][16] and swept the 6th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0 in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.^[17][18][19] 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, who were the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. One notable highlight of the series was in Game 3, when Knicks forward Larry Johnson hit a three-pointer while being fouled by Antonio Davis, then completing a 4-point play after hitting a free throw; the Knicks won the game at home, 92–91 to take a 2–1 series lead.^[20][21][22] The Knicks went on to defeat the Pacers in six games to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in six seasons,^[23][24][25] where they lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals.^[26][27][28]

It was also the final season the Pacers played at Market Square Arena, moving to the Conseco Fieldhouse the following season.^[29] Also following the season, Antonio Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors.^[30][31][32]

For the season, the Pacers added new golden yellow pinstripe alternate road uniforms with navy blue side panels, which would remain in use until 2005.^[33]

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 1998 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	25	Al Harrington	SF	United States	St. Patrick's High School (Elizabeth, New Jersey)

Roster

1998–99 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 44 Austin Croshere 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence F 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 F 25 Al Harrington 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1980–02–17 St. Patrick HS (NJ) 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 C 14 Sam Perkins 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–06–14 North Carolina F 43 Mark Pope  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–09–11 Kentucky G/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

Head coach Larry Bird Assistant(s) Rick Carlisle Dick Harter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: January 21, 1999

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y-Indiana Pacers	33	17	.660	–	18‍–‍7	15‍–‍10	15–7	50
x-Atlanta Hawks	31	19	.620	2.0	16‍–‍9	15‍–‍10	15–8	50
x-Detroit Pistons	29	21	.580	4.0	17‍–‍8	12‍–‍13	13–8	50
x-Milwaukee Bucks	28	22	.560	5.0	17‍–‍8	11‍–‍14	13–11	50
Charlotte Hornets	26	24	.520	7.0	16‍–‍9	10‍–‍15	12–10	50
Toronto Raptors	23	27	.460	10.0	14‍–‍11	9‍–‍16	9–14	50
Cleveland Cavaliers	22	28	.440	11.0	15‍–‍10	7‍–‍18	9–13	50
Chicago Bulls	13	37	.260	20.0	8‍–‍17	5‍–‍20	4–19	50

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c-Miami Heat *	33	17	.660	–	50
2	y-Indiana Pacers *	33	17	.660	–	50
3	x-Orlando Magic	33	17	.660	–	50
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	31	19	.620	2.0	50
5	x-Detroit Pistons	29	21	.580	4.0	50
6	x-Philadelphia 76ers	28	22	.560	5.0	50
7	x-Milwaukee Bucks	28	22	.560	5.0	50
8	x-New York Knicks	27	23	.540	6.0	50
9	Charlotte Hornets	26	24	.520	7.0	50
10	Toronto Raptors	23	27	.460	10.0	50
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	22	28	.440	11.0	50
12	Boston Celtics	19	31	.380	14.0	50
13	Washington Wizards	18	32	.360	15.0	50
14	New Jersey Nets	16	34	.320	17.0	50
15	Chicago Bulls	13	37	.260	20.0	50

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

^[34]

Game log

Regular season

1998–99 game log Total: 33–17 (home: 18–7; road: 15–10)
February: 9–4 (home: 4–1; road: 5–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 February 5, 1999 Washington W 96–81 Market Square Arena 1–0 2 February 7, 1999 @ Detroit L 98–107 The Palace of Auburn Hills 1–1 3 February 8, 1999 @ Cleveland W 95–89 Gund Arena 2–1 4 February 10, 1999 @ Portland L 92–100 Rose Garden 2–2 5 February 11, 1999 @ Vancouver W 101–97 General Motors Place 3–2 6 February 14, 1999 @ L.A. Lakers W 101–99 Great Western Forum 4–2 7 February 16, 1999 Miami L 78–89 Market Square Arena 4–3 8 February 18, 1999 Philadelphia W 99–95 Market Square Arena 5–3 9 February 20, 1999 @ Milwaukee W 82–80 Bradley Center 6–3 10 February 21, 1999 New Jersey W 80–79 Market Square Arena 7–3 11 February 24, 1999 Toronto W 104–84 Market Square Arena 8–3 12 February 25, 1999 @ Cleveland W 81–74 Gund Arena 9–3 13 February 26, 1999 @ Orlando L 100–103 (OT) Orlando Arena 9–4
March: 11–6 (home: 7–3; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 March 2, 1999 Denver W 88–81 Market Square Arena 10–4 15 March 3, 1999 @ Washington W 106–95 MCI Center 11–4 16 March 5, 1999 Golden State L 83–102 Market Square Arena 11–5 17 March 7, 1999 Miami W 85–72 Market Square Arena 12–5 18 March 10, 1999 New Jersey W 93–82 Market Square Arena 13–5 19 March 12, 1999 Milwaukee W 109–104 Market Square Arena 14–5 20 March 14, 1999 Boston W 99–96 Market Square Arena 15–5 21 March 16, 1999 Atlanta L 79–85 Market Square Arena 15–6 22 March 17, 1999 @ Philadelphia L 110–114 First Union Center 15–7 24 March 20, 1999 @ Miami W 94–89 Miami Arena 17–7 25 March 22, 1999 Washington W 90–86 Market Square Arena 18–7 26 March 24, 1999 @ Atlanta L 102–103 Georgia Dome 18–8 27 March 26, 1999 @ New Jersey W 100–91 Continental Airlines Arena 19–8 28 March 28, 1999 @ Boston W 101–93 FleetCenter 20–8 29 March 29, 1999 Atlanta L 82–83 Market Square Arena 20–9 30 March 30, 1999 @ New York L 93–94 Madison Square Garden 20–10
April: 11–7 (home: 5–3; road: 6–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 31 April 1, 1999 @ Toronto L 87–88 Air Canada Centre 20–11 32 April 2, 1999 @ Charlotte W 87–81 Charlotte Coliseum 21–11 33 April 4, 1999 New York W 108–95 Market Square Arena 22–11 34 April 5, 1999 @ Detroit W 88–86 The Palace of Auburn Hills 23–11 36 April 9, 1999 Detroit L 101–102 Market Square Arena 24–12 37 April 10, 1999 Charlotte L 90–92 Market Square Arena 24–13 38 April 12, 1999 @ Toronto W 109–99 Air Canada Centre 25–13 39 April 14, 1999 Orlando W 83–80 Market Square Arena 26–13 40 April 16, 1999 @ Philadelphia L 83–93 First Union Center 26–14 41 April 18, 1999 @ Miami L 88–92 Miami Arena 26–15 42 April 19, 1999 @ Boston W 120–104 FleetCenter 27–15 43 April 21, 1999 Milwaukee W 108–100 (OT) Market Square Arena 28–15 45 April 25, 1999 @ New Jersey L 98–120 Continental Airlines Arena 29–16 46 April 27, 1999 Orlando L 87–88 Market Square Arena 29–17 47 April 29, 1999 Charlotte W 115–100 (OT) Market Square Arena 30–17 48 April 30, 1999 @ Atlanta W 92–90 (OT) Georgia Dome 31–17
May: 2–0 (home: 2–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 49 May 2, 1999 New York W 94–71 Market Square Arena 32–17 50 May 4, 1999 Cleveland W 100–78 Market Square Arena 33–17
1998–99 schedule

Playoffs

1999 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 9, 1999 Milwaukee W 110–88 Rose (24) D. Davis (15) Jackson (12) Market Square Arena 16,560 1–0 2 May 11, 1999 Milwaukee W 108–107 (OT) Miller (30) A. Davis (8) Rose (8) Market Square Arena 16,608 2–0 3 May 13, 1999 @ Milwaukee W 99–91 Miller (33) D. Davis (7) Jackson (10) Bradley Center 18,717 3–0
Eastern Conference semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 17, 1999 Philadelphia W 94–90 Rose (27) A. Davis (10) Jackson (6) Market Square Arena 16,723 1–0 2 May 19, 1999 Philadelphia W 85–82 Smits (25) D. Davis (14) Jackson (14) Market Square Arena 16,795 2–0 3 May 21, 1999 @ Philadelphia W 97–86 Miller (29) D. Davis (11) Jackson (10) First Union Center 20,930 3–0 4 May 23, 1999 @ Philadelphia W 89–86 Miller (23) D. Davis (13) Jackson (13) First Union Center 20,844 4–0
Eastern Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 30, 1999 New York L 90–93 Miller (19) A. Davis, Jackson (7) Jackson (11) Market Square Arena 16,575 0–1 2 June 1, 1999 New York W 88–86 Jackson (17) D. Davis (12) Jackson (8) Market Square Arena 16,586 1–1 3 June 5, 1999 @ New York L 91–92 Smits (25) A. Davis (8) Jackson (9) Madison Square Garden 19,763 1–2 4 June 7, 1999 @ New York W 90–78 Rose (19) D. Davis (12) Jackson (4) Madison Square Garden 19,763 2–2 5 June 9, 1999 New York L 94–101 Miller (30) D. Davis (18) Jackson (4) Market Square Arena 16,541 2–3 6 June 11, 1999 @ New York L 82–90 Smits (20) D. Davis (12) Jackson, Miller (4) Madison Square Garden 19,763 2–4
1999 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Reggie Miller	SG	50	50	1,787	135	112	37	9	920	35.7	2.7	2.2	.7	.2	18.4
Dale Davis	PF	50	50	1,374	416	22	20	57	398	27.5	8.3	.4	.4	1.1	8.0
Chris Mullin	SF	50	50	1,179	160	81	47	13	507	23.6	3.2	1.6	.9	.3	10.1
Mark Jackson	PG	49	49	1,382	184	386	42	3	373	28.2	3.8	7.9	.9	.1	7.6
Rik Smits	C	49	49	1,271	275	52	18	52	728	25.9	5.6	1.1	.4	1.1	14.9
Antonio Davis	PF	49	1	1,271	344	33	22	42	463	25.9	7.0	.7	.4	.9	9.4
Jalen Rose	SF	49	1	1,238	154	93	50	15	542	25.3	3.1	1.9	1.0	.3	11.1
Travis Best	PG	49	0	1,043	80	169	42	4	346	21.3	1.6	3.4	.9	.1	7.1
Sam Perkins	PF	48	0	789	138	25	15	14	238	16.4	2.9	.5	.3	.3	5.0
Austin Croshere	PF	27	0	249	45	10	7	8	92	9.2	1.7	.4	.3	.3	3.4
Al Harrington	PF	21	0	160	39	5	4	2	45	7.6	1.9	.2	.2	.1	2.1
Derrick McKey	SF	13	0	244	41	13	12	4	60	18.8	3.2	1.0	.9	.3	4.6
Fred Hoiberg	SG	12	0	87	11	4	0	0	19	7.3	.9	.3	.0	.0	1.6
Mark Pope	SF	4	0	26	4	0	0	0	2	6.5	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.5

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Reggie Miller	SG	13	13	481	51	34	9	3	263	37.0	3.9	2.6	.7	.2	20.2
Mark Jackson	PG	13	13	451	59	112	14	1	146	34.7	4.5	8.6	1.1	.1	11.2
Dale Davis	PF	13	13	394	132	11	10	18	118	30.3	10.2	.8	.8	1.4	9.1
Rik Smits	C	13	13	293	65	9	6	15	153	22.5	5.0	.7	.5	1.2	11.8
Chris Mullin	SF	13	13	283	20	15	10	3	124	21.8	1.5	1.2	.8	.2	9.5
Jalen Rose	SF	13	0	355	31	32	13	5	158	27.3	2.4	2.5	1.0	.4	12.2
Antonio Davis	PF	13	0	326	92	8	5	14	103	25.1	7.1	.6	.4	1.1	7.9
Derrick McKey	SF	13	0	245	43	19	12	4	47	18.8	3.3	1.5	.9	.3	3.6
Sam Perkins	PF	13	0	146	25	6	0	3	53	11.2	1.9	.5	.0	.2	4.1
Travis Best	PG	11	0	150	17	21	4	1	46	13.6	1.5	1.9	.4	.1	4.2
Fred Hoiberg	SG	4	0	20	3	2	3	0	4	5.0	.8	.5	.8	.0	1.0
Austin Croshere	PF	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	1.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	2.0

Awards, records, and honors

Transactions