1999 NBA East Finals Game 3 Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks, June 5, 1999, LJ 4-Point Play

1999 NBA East Finals Game 3 Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks, June 5, 1999, LJ 4-Point Play

IND 91, NYK 92 – On June 5, 1999, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks were down 91-88 with just 5 seconds remaining when Larry Johnson made a clutch 3-pointer, was fouled, and converted the ensuing free throw. This dramatic 4-point play, arguably one of the greatest in NBA history, electrified the 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden and put the Knicks a step closer to the NBA Finals.

Player of the game:
Larry Johnson: 26 PTS, 10-18 FGM, 56 FG%, 3-6 3PM, 8 REB, 1 STL

I was here live, running around the International Broadcast Box just after turning 3, wearing a custom-made Knicks-themed orange Power Ranger costume given to me by a work friend of my father’s. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I happily joined in cheering with the crowd. It wasn’t until I was 6 that I actually started watching the games.

During the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, the Pacers and Knicks clashed in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the Pacers being favored and finishing the regular season with a strong record, the Knicks, who barely made the playoffs as the eighth seed, achieved several stunning upsets. They knocked out the top-seeded Miami Heat in a dramatic Game 5 and then swept the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the Conference Finals.

With 11.9 seconds left in Game 3 and the Pacers leading 91-88, Johnson’s controversial 4-point play turned the game. After a disputed foul call, Johnson’s 3-pointer tied the game, and he made the free throw to give the Knicks a 92-91 lead. The Pacers had one last chance, but Mark Jackson’s missed jumper sealed the Knicks’ win. This thrilling finish, marked by Johnson’s clutch performance and the dubious foul call, gave New York a crucial victory.