2000 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 5 Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, May 4, 2000

MIL 95, IND 96 - In a thrilling Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Eastern Conference First Round, the Indiana Pacers narrowly edged out the Milwaukee Bucks with a 96-95 victory on May 4, 2000. Reggie Miller led the Pacers with an outstanding performance, scoring 41 points on 15-25 shooting, including 3-7 from beyond the arc and 8-10 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Despite Miller's dominant display, it was Travis Best who delivered the decisive blow, hitting a clutch three-pointer in the closing moments to seal the series for Indiana. The Pacers' win allowed them to advance to the next round, overcoming a resilient Bucks team in a hard-fought series. Player of the game: Reggie Miller: 41 PTS, 15-25 FGM, 3-7 3PM, 8-10 FTM, 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2 TOV Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose shouldered the bulk of the scoring for the Pacers, averaging 24.2 and 19 points per game, respectively. On the other side, the Bucks showcased a balanced attack, with Ray Allen leading the way at 22.0 points per game, while Sam Cassell, Glenn Robinson, and Tim Thomas each added 15.0 points per game throughout the five-game series. The 1999–2000 NBA season marked a period of significant change for the Pacers. It was their debut season at Conseco Fieldhouse and their first since 1993 without center Antonio Davis, who was traded for the rights to the No. 5 overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. Jalen Rose, who replaced Chris Mullin in the starting lineup, went on to win the NBA Most Improved Player award, while Austin Croshere took over as the sixth man. Despite starting the season with a 7–7 record, the Pacers finished with an Eastern Conference-leading 56–26 record, highlighted by a franchise-record 25-game home win streak.