Haliburton revives the ghost of Reggie Miller

On a night that seemed scripted by the basketball gods, the Indiana Pacers staged one of the most stunning comebacks in NBA playoff history, defeating the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton , with a gesture that evoked ghosts of the past, emulated Reggie Miller 's iconic " choke sign ," leaving the Madison Square Garden fans in a state of disbelief and unease.

With a 14-point lead and less than three minutes left, the Knicks seemed to have the game wrapped up. The statistics backed them up: since 1997, teams with a similar lead in that final stretch had a 994-0 record. However, history had other plans.

Aaron Nesmith ignited the game with a flurry of 3-pointers , draining five in the final 3:15 of regulation. Haliburton, with 31 points and 11 assists, capped the comeback with a shot that initially looked like a game-winning 3-pointer but was confirmed as a game-tying double at the buzzer.

After his shot, Haliburton made the "choke" gesture, a clear reference to Reggie Miller 's infamous 1994 gesture in front of Spike Lee. "Everyone wanted me to do that gesture," said Haliburton, who admitted he had saved the moment for a special occasion.

• Miller's presence at the stadium, as part of the TNT broadcast team, added an additional layer of symbolism to the scene, reminding everyone present of the intense Pacers-Knicks rivalry that defined the 1990s.

Emotional shock

Despite strong performances from Jalen Brunson (43 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (35 points), the Knicks couldn't contain the Pacers' final charge. Crucial errors, including turnovers and missed free throws, sealed their fate on a night that promised to be one of celebration.

The loss represents a psychological blow that could have repercussions for the rest of the series. The Knicks' ability to recover from this setback will be tested in the next game.

Next challenge: Game 2 at Madison Square Garden

The series continues this Friday at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will look to redeem themselves and avoid falling into a 0-2 deficit. The pressure is on their shoulders, and the basketball world is watching closely to see if they can overcome this initial blow .

TOPICS -