Reggie Miller had a big smile for his mini-me: Tyrese Haliburton.
After Haliburton brought the Pacers back from the depths of defeat for a shocking 138-135 win, the star guard mimicked Miller’s iconic choke sign against the Knicks –– and Miller was seen on camera pointing in Haliburton’s direction.
Miller attempted to conceal his grin as he pointed to Haliburton and put his hand over his mouth, as shown at the end of the TNT broadcast.
“Yeah, after I finished my postgame interview, we locked eyes and had a little moment,” Haliburton said. “I didn’t want to go over there because it is pretty hectic over there. But we communicate pretty often, so it was definitely a special moment. Really cool, he was in the building for that.”
The Knicks, who blew a 14-point lead with less than three minutes left in regulation, are the first team in 994 prior playoff games to lose when being up 14 or more points with 2:45 or less remaining in the game.
After Haliburton hit what he thought was a game-winning 3-point jump shot at the end of regulation, he grabbed his throat just as Miller did nearly 30 years ago.
Replays confirmed Haliburton’s foot was on the line, though, and the shot send the game to overtime where the Pacers held on late.
When Miller did it on May 7, 1995, the Pacers were down 105-99 with 18.5 seconds remaining when he nailed a 3-pointer off an inbounds play.
Miller then hit a 3-pointer to tie the game after an errant pass. He would go on to hit two free throws to steal Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Haliburton, while not the catalyst of the comeback like Miller was, knew just how big of a choke job this was by the Knicks.
“In the moment, I wasn’t plotting it,” Haliburton said after the game. “It felt right at the time, but if I had known it was a two, I would not have done it.”
Haliburton’s two-point jumper sent the game to overtime, where they would win the game and send Knicks fans home shocked, dejected, and absolutely furious.
He has guard Aaron Neismith to thank for his efforts in the comeback, becoming the first player in NBA history to hit six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of an NBA playoff game.
Game 2 on Friday night should be box office as a must-win for the Knicks.
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