Reggie Miller, the iconic former NBA great, is best known for his epic playoff heroics. He left such an impression at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it was hosted at Madison Square Garden. As a COLOR commentator for TNT, Miller has fascinated the audience with rare insights that electrified the audience. He brought to life pivotal chapters from his hall of fame rivalry with the New York Knicks, igniting the love of basketball in both old heads and millennials alike.
Miller, better known as the “Knick killer,” authored some of the greatest moments in NBA history while with the Indiana Pacers. His matchup with the Knicks in the playoffs led to legendary moments, especially in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 5 of that series, Miller scored 25 of his game-high 39 points in the fourth quarter, famously engaging in a back-and-forth with renowned Knicks fan Spike Lee. That bitter rivalry created such a firestorm competition that earned the nickname “Winning Time” which gave you our documentary of the year.
In the midst of the broadcast, Miller reflected on those thrilling matchups, saying “Oh my goodness” after seeing one unbelievable shot. His presence loomed large over the arena. Still fresh in the minds of fans was his infamous choke sign directed at the Madison Square Garden faithful, an absolute signature of his unmatched intensity in those playoff battles.
Perhaps it was proper tribute to Miller that current NBA player Tyrese Haliburton revived the choke gesture. He brought it back to life at the end of Game 1. In particular, this moment fired up fans and pundits. Miller, who had to taste the action from the sidelines, conceded Haliburton’s homage by pointing back at him during the postgame conference.
Tyrese Haliburton’s brilliance was the key to victory. He hit a game-tying two-pointer, which he described as “landing like an anvil in the pits of everyone’s stomach.” His choice shot embodied the fierce competitiveness and self-assured boldness of a young guard who digs deep into NBA history. This clearly resonated with Haliburton who expressed his admiration for Miller and how he’s watched the documentary chronicling their rivalry “probably 50 times.”
In addition to Turner, the game’s unsung hero was Aaron Nesmith, who scored 16 and proved to be a defensive terror down the stretch of the fourth quarter. He buried six three-balls in less than five minutes. It only took one big shot to turn the momentum and grab the focus of every player on the court. Knicks’ star Jalen Brunson noted, “Once he hits one, you’ve got to be on high alert,” emphasizing the challenge Nesmith posed.
Brunson came within a hair’s breath of doing the same to Nesmith in pivotal flashes of the game. He learned quickly that his team couldn’t afford to lose their vigilance and motivation. Check out how bad the Knicks started to panic as Nesmith just wouldn’t miss. Miller echoed this sentiment on air, commenting, “Another 3 by Nesmith. That’s the great equalizer in our game.”
As Miller’s legend filled Madison Square Garden, fans were swept up in a wave of ‘90s nostalgia. The energy in the air, the tension—it was thick—as 19,812 fans all held their breath, the audience in tacit agreement about what was at play. The tension was palpable as Haliburton’s shot ricocheted off the rim in what many would call one of the cruelest bounces in NBA playoff history.
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