The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks wasted no time reigniting their rivalry in just one game. It all went down in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals when Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton pulled off a game-tying buzzer-beater at Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks. To add fuel to the fire, Haliburton recreated Reggie Miller’s infamous choking sign right in front of Miller himself, who was commentating for TNT at the time. The tension was high as the Knicks initially held a 14-point lead with under three minutes left in the game, looking like an easy win was in sight. However, Aaron Nesmith’s stellar performance turned the tide, giving Indiana a chance to either tie or win the game with mere seconds remaining.
In a jaw-dropping moment, Haliburton managed to keep his composure, maneuvering to create enough space for a buzzer-beater shot. The ball bounced off the back of the rim, soared high above the backboard, and miraculously dropped through the hoop, leaving the MSG crowd in disbelief. Haliburton then shocked everyone by flashing the choking sign towards the stunned audience. Despite the initial excitement that his shot was a game-winning 3-pointer, a replay revealed that his toe was on the line, making it count for only two points and sending the game into overtime. In a post-game interview with TNT, Haliburton confessed that he had mistakenly thought it was a 3-pointer when he unleashed the celebratory gesture.
The intense rivalry between the Pacers and Knicks has seen its fair share of memorable moments over the years, with Miller’s iconic gesture towards Spike Lee during the 1994 Eastern Conference finals being a standout. Haliburton’s nod to that historic moment has potentially earned him a spot on the list of top rivalries between the two teams. Had the Knicks managed to bounce back in overtime, Haliburton’s gesture might have been forgotten. However, the Pacers pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure a 138-135 victory, taking a surprising 1-0 series lead. The stage is set for an epic showdown between these two fierce competitors, and fans can’t wait to see what unfolds next.
