1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pacers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise. In the off-season, the Pacers hired former Indiana State and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird as head coach, acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agent Mark West. Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

The Pacers struggled early in the 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. The Pacers won nine of their final eleven games, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence finishing second in the Central Division with a 58–24 record. 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.

Reggie Miller, Rik 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' only All-Star appearance. Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 19.5 points per game, led them with 164 three-point field goals, and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, while Smits averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Mullin provided the team with 11.3 points per game. 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, but only played 57 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Bird was named Coach of the Year after his first season as head coach.

In the playoffs, the Pacers would defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round, then defeat the 7th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers faced off against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls. However, with the series tied at 3–3, the Pacers would lose to the Bulls in a hard fought seven-game series. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals for their third consecutive championship, and sixth overall in eight years.

Following the season, West signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks, and Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, was released to free agency and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the next season.

A notable highlight of the season was the Pacers defeating the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 124–59 at 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. For the season, the team sported new pinstripe uniforms with golden yellow side panels, which would remain in use until 2005.

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.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
G	4	Best, Travis	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	182 lb (83 kg)	1972–07–12	Georgia Tech
F	21	Bohannon, Etdrick	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1973–05–29	Auburn Montgomery
F	44	Croshere, Austin	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	1975–05–01	Providence
F/C	33	Davis, Antonio	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	1968–10–31	UTEP
F/C	32	Davis, Dale	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1969–03–25	Clemson
G	20	Hoiberg, Fred	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	1972–10–15	Iowa State
G	13	Jackson, Mark	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1965–04–01	St. John's
F	9	McKey, Derrick	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1966–10–10	Alabama
G	31	Miller, Reggie	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1965–08–24	UCLA
F	17	Mullin, Chris	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1963–07–30	St. John's
F	43	Pope, Mark	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	1972–09–11	Kentucky
F	5	Rose, Jalen	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	1973–01–30	Michigan
C	45	Smits, Rik	7 ft 4 in (2.24 m)	250 lb (113 kg)	1966–08–23	Marist
C	41	West, Mark	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	1960–11–05	Old Dominion
G	3	Workman, Haywoode (IN)	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1966–01–23	Oral Roberts

Head coach

Larry Bird

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
(IN) Inactive
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: September 8, 1997

Roster Notes

Point guard Haywoode Workman missed the entire season due to a knee injury.

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
12	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	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	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	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	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	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	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

Ragular 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

Transactions

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References

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1997–98 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Orlando Philadelphia Washington
Central	Atlanta Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee Toronto

Western

Midwest	Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah Vancouver
Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

v t e Indiana Pacers
Founded in 1967 Based in Indianapolis, Indiana
Franchise	History ABA–NBA merger All-time roster Draft history Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Indiana State Fair Coliseum Market Square Arena Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Personnel	Owner(s) Herb Simon President Kevin Pritchard General manager Chad Buchanan Head coach Rick Carlisle
G League affiliate	Indiana Mad Ants
Retired numbers	30 31 34 35 529
ABA championships	1970 1972 1973
Rivalries	Miami Heat New York Knicks
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Boomer Dancing Harry Team Bikeshare The Knick-Killer The Dunking Dutchman Malice at the Palace Reb Porter 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament championship game