Page "Indiana Pacers" Paragraph 26

Despite the adversity they had gone through, the Pacers made the playoffs for the 13th time in 14 years.

In the first round, Indiana defeated the Atlantic Division champion Boston Celtics in seven games, winning Game 7 in Boston by the decisive margin of 97 – 70, just the third time the Celtics had dropped a Game 7 at home.

The Pacers then advanced to the second-round against the Detroit Pistons, in a rematch of the previous year's Eastern Conference Finals.

The series featured games back at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the scene of the brawl that many assumed at the time had effectively ended the Pacers ' season.

After losing Game 1, the Pacers won the next two games to take a 2 – 1 lead.

However, the Pacers could not repeat their victories against the Pistons and lost the next 3 games, losing the series 4 – 2.

The final game ( Game 6 ) was on May 19, 2005 ; Reggie Miller, in his final NBA game, scored 27 points and received a huge standing ovation from the crowd.

Despite Miller's effort, the Pacers lost, sending Miller into retirement without an NBA Championship in his 18-year career, all with the Pacers.

Miller had his No. 31 jersey retired by the Pacers on March 30, 2006 when the Pacers played the Phoenix Suns.