The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have renewed their heated playoff rivalry in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 was an all-time classic, as the Pacers overcame a 17-point deficit and pulled off a historic comeback against Indiana.
The playoff history between these teams is littered with big moments at Madison Square Garden — none more famous than Reggie Miller’s “choke” celebration in Game 5 of the 1994 Conference Finals. Let’s revisit that moment.
Reggie Miller Had 25 Points in 4th Quarter Of ‘Choke’ Game
Each team in the 1994 NBA playoffs had newfound hope after Michael Jordan retired to play baseball after the 1993 NBA Finals. Jordan and the Chicago Bulls spurned the Knicks during their first three-peat, and New York finally got over that hump by defeating Chicago in the second round.
Miller and the Pacers were awaiting them in the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana had never been to the NBA Finals at that point, and the Knicks hadn’t advanced that far since winning the title in 1973. With Jordan gone, both teams had a prime opportunity to win a championship, and they played a hard-fought seven-game series.
New York held homecourt advantage and won each of the first two games by 11 points. The Pacers held serve at home, winning Games 3 and 4 to even the series. The stage was set for a pivotal Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks led by eight at halftime, and grew the lead to 12 at the end of the third quarter. That’s when Miller took center stage and became one of the all-time villains in New York sports history.
Indiana quickly cut the lead to eight, and Miller made it a four-point game after a short-range jumper. He then started yelling at someone sitting courtside on his way back down the court. He hit a corner 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one, and continued to jaw at a fan.
After the next whistle, it became clear that Miller was yelling at long-time Knicks fan Spike Lee. During a free throw, Miller was caught on camera making the choke sign to Lee, and Indiana tied the game at 72 with just over eight minutes to play.
The Knicks continued to meltdown, and Miller remained hot. With each shot he made, Miller glared at Lee. The game ended 93-86 with Indiana outscoring New York 35-16 in the fourth quarter. Miller totaled 25 points in the fourth quarter and 39 in the game.
In 1994 Pacers-Knicks Playoff Series, Reggie Miller said “Spike Lee who?”
Showing the 4th quarter choke sign while looking at him after every clutch basket. pic.twitter.com/V619xgPdQb
— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@oldskoolbballx)
Indiana returned home up 3-2 in the series, but the Knicks gritted out a tough seven-point win on the road before winning Game 7, 94-90.
Miller recaptured the magic the next season in the second round of the playoffs when he went off for eight points in nine seconds to win Game 1 against the Knicks.
Miller’s choke celebration is iconic, and it is relevant again because Tyrese Haliburton hit Madison Square Garden with the same celebration after seemingly winning Game 1 with a 3-pointer at the end of regulation. Haliburton’s toe was on the line, so his epic shot only sent the game to overtime, but Indiana kept fighting and won the game 138-135.
tyrese haliburton doing the reggie miller choke at MSG and then pointing to him in the crowd is why sports are awesome pic.twitter.com/2VLcviVRU0
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm)
With potentially six more games to go in the series, Haliburton’s celebration could be a bit premature, but it fit the moment in Game 1.
Look for New York to come out hot in Game 2 and try to get a big bounce-back win after their epic collapse.