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Reggie Miller called and the Indiana Pacers paid tribute to the franchise legend on Wednesday night.
Well, that wasn't a direct homage, but the New York Knicks blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead in the first Eastern Conference final game of the 21st century and dropped Game 1 against Indiana, 138-135.
New York led by 17 people, with just over six minutes in just over six minutes, under 14, with fewer than three, but for the Pacers it didn't match.
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Indiana Pacers guard Tyreese Halliburton (0) will tie the game in the fourth quarter and celebrate with his teammates after sending overtime against the New York Knicks in one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
Aaron Nesmith made the best impression of Miller by drilling six consecutive three-pointers to help Indiana cut the deficit to just two points in 22.1 seconds. After the Knicks got 2-for-2 off the line twice, Tyrees Halliburton hit a buzzer beater, thinking he was a three and pointing to him at Miller's infamous choke signal. However, Halliburton's toes were on the line and the game was heading for overtime.
New York started overtime with a four-point lead, but the 5-0 Pacer's run took their first lead as it was 45-44 in the second quarter. Neither team took a more than one point lead in the next two minutes. The Knicks missed three games visiting two games, and Pacer stole victory.
The team led the playoff games with nine points or more in overtime in the final minute of the fourth quarter or playoff games. It was 1,414-0 on Wednesday, 1998.
Also, since 1997, the team is currently 4-1,640, earning 7 or more points in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime in the playoff game. Pacer has won three of these games this season alone.
May 21st, 2025. New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard guard Ty Halliburton (0) shoots New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in overtime during one game of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Required Credit: Brad Penner-Immagn Image (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
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Unfortunately for the Knicks, it was their own medication taste. They completed a 20, 20, and 14-point comeback with the Boston Celtics, winning the second round series.
Halliburton and Nesmith scored 31 and 30 points respectively. Nesmith's 20 20 came in that epic fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson led with 43 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns scored 35 Plus 12 rebounds, but didn't hit a 3-pointer for the game-tying in the final seconds.
The series was a second round rematch last year, with Indiana winning seven games against an injured Knicks team, but he is also the one the Knicks faced in both the 1999 and 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyreese Halliburton (0) makes a choke move towards the New York Knicks after hitting the shot on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the end of the fourth quarter of the NBA Basketball Eastern Conference Finals in New York. (AP photo/Frank Franklin II)
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In fact, the Knicks and Pacers got pairs four times in the playoffs in the 1990s. Both New York wins sent them to the NBA Finals.
Now, rivalries are hotter than ever. Game 2 is a Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
And if the Knicks have a bounty of salvation, they will win the series where Miller hit them with his choke signal.
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