Flashback #37: Bulls Beat Pacers In Eastern Conference Finals (1998)

As of 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these "flashbacks" have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary page.

May 31, 1998 - Bulls beat the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals

You remember Reggie Miller, right?

He's that shooting guard from the Pacers that made the Bulls' lives a living hell during the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals in 1998.

The Bulls were poised to return to the NBA Finals and win their third-straight NBA championship, but they'd first have to go through Miller and the Pacers. Chicago had little trouble reaching the conference finals after sweeping the Nets in the first round and taking down the Hornets in five games in round two, but Miller and the Pacers wouldn't let the Bulls just march into the Finals uncontested.

Early in the series, it appeared the Bulls would win the series, taking Games 1 and 2, but once the series shift to Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, things began to change.

After the Pacers took Game 3, they trailed the Bulls 94–93 in Game 4 with 2.9 seconds left.

Miller then got free from Michael Jordan, caught the in-bounds pass from Derrick McKey, and turned and made a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds to go.

The clutch 3-pointer tied the series at 2 games, but the Bulls would eventually take home the Eastern Conference crown in Game 7 in Chicago. This was one of only two Game 7s the Bulls would play during their run of six championships.

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary »