Ever since the Indiana Pacers secured their place in the Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller’s name has been back in the headlines. The buzz began in Game 1 when Tyrese Haliburton ignited the crowd and the internet with a bold “choke” gesture—reminiscent of Miller’s own infamous taunt at Madison Square Garden decades ago—before sending the game into overtime, where Indiana ultimately triumphed.
The echoes of Miller’s legacy have been hard to ignore in this series, and on Sunday night (May 25), they turned into roaring applause.
Reggie Miller Was Moved by the Love He Got From the Indiana Pacers Fans
During Game 3 on May 25, as the Pacers battled the Knicks on their home floor, fans inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse realized something special: Miller was in the arena, calling the game from the commentator booth.
As soon as his presence was shown on the big screen, the crowd erupted. Thousands rose to their feet offering a long and heartfelt standing ovation for the man who helped define Indiana basketball.
Miller, clearly moved by the moment, acknowledged the cheers with a warm smile and open arms, accepting the tribute from the fans who watched him make history for nearly two decades.
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Miller spent his entire 18-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, becoming not only the face of the franchise but also one of the most feared clutch performers in league history. While a championship eluded him, Miller’s resume remains nothing short of legendary: five-time NBA All-Star, 15 playoff appearances, and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2000.
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As for Game 3 itself the Pacers came out strong in the first half. However, the second half told a different story as Indiana faltered down the stretch and eventually fell to the Knicks 106-100. Despite the loss there were silver linings with Haliburton scoring 20 points and Myles Turner contributing 19 points in solid efforts.
Miller’s Message to the Pacers After Game 3 Loss
Even though Miller received a thunderous standing ovation from Pacers fans during Game 3, the Hall of Famer didn’t hold back when it came to addressing Indiana’s struggles on Sunday night.
During the postgame broadcast, Miller made it clear that the Pacers—and especially head coach Rick Carlisle—need to reassess their second-half approach.
“If you’re Rick Carlisle, you’re going to have to look at the second half and your offense. You talked about the Knicks’ defense stepping up. You’re going to have to find adjustments with that pressure and try to get some more easy ones for Indiana,” said Miller.
As previously mentioned Indiana entered halftime on May 25 with a promising 13-point advantage. However the momentum quickly shifted in the second half, most notably in the fourth quarter when Karl-Anthony Towns erupted for 20 points.
The Pacers’ defense faltered and their offense lacked rhythm. Next Indiana will face the New York Knicks in Game 4 on May 27.
