When was the last time the Indiana Pacers went to the NBA Finals?

The Indiana Pacers earned a historic victory 125-108 over the New York Knicks this Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, sealing the series in six games and securing their spot in the NBA Finals. There, they’ll face a tough challenge against the best team in the league this season—the Oklahoma City Thunder.

For both franchises, this marks a historic opportunity, as neither has won an NBA championship. The Thunder, of course, have never done so since relocating and rebranding in 2008, though they did win a title as the Seattle SuperSonics back in 1979. For the Pacers, this would mark their very first title.

Indiana has reached the Eastern Conference Finals nine times over their 49-year history in the league, but only once have they advanced to the NBA Finals. That was during the 1999–2000 season, when they were led by head coach Larry Bird and franchise icon Reggie Miller, along with key contributors like Jalen Rose (who was named Most Improved Player that year), Rik Smits, and Mark Jackson.

Coincidentally, in that postseason the Pacers also defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals—just as they did this year. The only difference came in the second round, where they faced the Philadelphia 76ers instead of the Cleveland Cavaliers as they did in 2025.

Reggie Miller led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2000.

In the championship series, their opponent was the Los Angeles Lakers—and things were anything but easy. Phil Jackson’s team, powered by superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, proved too much for Indiana, and their dream of winning a title ended in six games.

It’s been 25 years since that heartbreak, and now Indiana has another shot at the crown. They won’t be facing the superstar-laden Lakers of that era or Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, who also crushed their hopes in earlier decades—but that doesn’t mean the task ahead will be any easier.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have shown all year that they’re a serious contender, armed with elite offense and defense. They finished the regular season with a 68–14 record to dominate the Western Conference, and they’ve continued their strong run in the playoffs, eliminating the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

While regular-season matchups don’t always forecast what will happen in the Finals, they do hint at how tough this series could be for the Pacers. The two teams met twice this season, with the Thunder winning both games—120–114 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in December, and 132–111 in March at Paycom Center.