The Indiana Pacers are back on the biggest stage with game 3 of the NBA Finals, and one of their biggest fans didn’t miss a beat.
Sitting courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during a high-stakes game of the NBA Finals, Caitlin Clark gave fans a flashback to one of the most iconic moments in Pacers history.
The Indiana Fever superstar lit up the building with a bold little gesture that instantly went viral and stirred a wave of nostalgia.
Injury Did Not Dampen Caitlin Clark’s Spirit As She Lights Up NBA Finals Game 3
Clark may be dealing with an injury in her own WNBA season, but that didn’t stop her from bringing the energy courtside during Game 3 of the NBA Finals. During the second quarter, cameras caught Clark courtside flashing the infamous “choke” sign — a nod to Pacers legend Reggie Miller’s unforgettable taunt toward the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden back in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Caitlin Clark hit the Reggie Miller choke celly 😠pic.twitter.com/QA0DW9HAIM
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) June 12, 2025
The moment was quick but deliberate. And for Pacers fans, it felt instantly familiar. Clark, a proud Indiana fan and longtime Tyrese Haliburton supporter, smiled as she delivered the gesture. It was playful but powerful, especially coming on a night when the Pacers needed every ounce of energy from the home crowd.
It also echoed what Haliburton did just weeks earlier in the playoffs. In Game 1 of the Pacers’ series against the New York Knicks, Haliburton drilled a cold-blooded shot to force overtime and then hit the Knicks with the same choke gesture.
Haliburton later revealed he believed the shot — which was worth two points — had been a three.
Many believe that moment was the turning point of the series. The Pacers went on to eliminate the Knicks in six games and punched their ticket to the NBA finals after 25 years. So when Clark mimicked that same move, it wasn’t just a cheeky celebration—it was a nod to the past and present of Indiana basketball.
Pacers Pull Off Another Comeback to Take 2–1 Series Lead
The Pacers have been riding a wave of momentum since that Knicks series, and the Finals have only added to the drama. After stealing Game 1 in Oklahoma City with a wild fourth-quarter surge, the Pacers returned home with the series tied at 1-1.
Game 2 saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drop 34 points to cool off the Pacers’ energy. But on Wednesday, June 11, in Indianapolis, the story flipped again.
Down 89-86 late in the third quarter, the Pacers stormed back with a dominant 32-18 final frame to win 116-107 and take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
Haliburton finished with 22 points. Bennedict Mathurin exploded for 27 off the bench, and Pascal Siakam chipped in 21 as the trio powered the Pacers to yet another clutch victory. On the Thunder’s side, SGA ended the night with 24 points, but Oklahoma City couldn’t match the Pacers’ closing punch.
Even with the stakes sky-high, the night was about more than just the scoreboard. Reggie Miller was courtside. So were Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard, soaking in the energy of what could be a turning point in the NBA Finals.
Clark’s moment, though brief, reminded everyone how deeply Indiana basketball history runs and how seamlessly she’s becoming part of it. Just like Miller lit up the Knicks decades ago, Clark is lighting up the city today, one viral moment at a time.
