Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton walked off the court with his head held high, adding another fearless moment to his standout postseason run. After helping orchestrate one of the wildest playoff comebacks in Pacers history, the 25-year-old All-Star kept his postgame message simple.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Heroics Lift Pacers in Game 1, Inspired by Reggie Miller’s Ghost
The Pacers overcame a 14-point deficit with under three minutes remaining in regulation to stun the New York Knicks and take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Basketball is fun. Winning is fun,” Haliburton told the NBA on TNT telecast. “I’m so proud of the resilience of this group. We’ve shown it all year. We’ve had to win in so many random and unique ways, and today, we just kept going and kept fighting. Man, that’s fun.”
“Basketball is fun. Winning is fun… We just figured out a way to win man… I'm so proud of this group.”
Tyrese Haliburton following the Pacers Game 1 win over the Knicks 🙌
(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/smiPPbxYld
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints)
The defining moment of the Pacers’ latest comeback came with seven seconds left in regulation. Down 125–123 and following a pair of made free throws by Knicks forward OG Anunoby, Haliburton grabbed the inbounds pass and sprinted up the floor.
He faked center Mitchell Robinson into believing he was going to attack the rim, then shifted into a step-back jumper (initially thought to be a 3) that clanged off the back iron, floated high above the rim, and dropped through the net, instantly silencing the stunned Madison Square Garden crowd.
Thinking he’d hit a game-winning 3-pointer, Haliburton turned to the crowd and flashed the iconic “choke” sign — a nod to Pacers legend and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who enjoyed his own set of heroics in the same building back in the 1990s.
The moment Haliburton invoked Miller’s choke sign instantly went viral.
“I thought it was a 3. I tried to hit the [Reggie Miller’s] celly,” Haliburton said. “It didn’t work, but we finished it in overtime. Everybody’s been wanting me to do [the celebration]. I was going to hold it for the right time that felt appropriate, and then it went to overtime. So, we’re going to have to save it for later.”
Haliburton was the catalyst, finishing with 31 points and 11 assists. Despite the early jump on the celebration, his heroic night reminded fans of Miller’s killer instinct. Haliburton and Miller made their mark in Madison Square Garden when the brightest lights shone.
New York was outscored 20-6 in the final three minutes, which allowed the Pacers to steal Game 1 and the home-court advantage. The choke sign may have sparked memories of Miller’s legendary performances, but the spotlight belonged to Haliburton on this night.
