Reggie Miller’s Shadow Returns as Haliburton and Pacers Reignite Knicks’ Playoff Nightmares at MSG

The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was electric yet unsettlingly silent. As the New York Knicks clung to a shrinking lead, nearly 20,000 fans fell into synchronized anxiety, whispering shouts of “Shhhhh!” during crucial free throws. The eerie quietness echoed a deeper collective fear, one rooted in decades of playoff disappointment and near-misses.

Reggie Miller’s Presence and Haliburton’s Tribute Intensify Knicks’ Playoff Tension

Adding to the surreal tension was the presence of Reggie Miller, infamous for tormenting the Knicks in the 1990s. Now a TNT broadcaster, Miller was courtside as the Indiana Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, appeared to resurrect his legacy. Haliburton even reenacted Miller’s iconic “choke” gesture in a tribute he had been plotting for years, fully aware of its historical weight and theatrical flair.

As the Knicks seemed poised to secure a Game 1 win, the jumbotron flashed images of franchise legends like Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony, and Walt Frazier. A 14-point lead with under three minutes to go gave fans permission to dream—but not for long. That comforting sense of inevitability would soon be shattered in the most painful way possible.

Nesmith’s Barrage and Haliburton’s Dagger Revive Old Demons, Dim Knicks’ Hopes

The momentum shifted when Aaron Nesmith nailed a three-pointer after Jalen Brunson stumbled on a screen. What followed was an avalanche: Nesmith hit six threes in the final minutes of regulation, each one cutting deeper into the Knicks’ lead. Reggie Miller’s commentary added salt to the wound as he reminded viewers of the three-pointer’s destructive power—something he mastered during his career.

Tyrese Haliburton delivered the dagger with a dramatic, rim-hanging two-pointer to tie the game and force overtime, which the Knicks failed to survive. Though the loss stung, Haliburton himself acknowledged one potential consolation for New York fans: in 1994, despite Miller’s heroics, the Knicks ultimately won that series in seven games. That glimmer of historic symmetry might offer a faint hope amid fresh heartbreak.