Haliburton Revives Miller’s Gesture and Silences Madison Square Garden
In an emotionally charged encounter at Madison Square Garden, Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers player, emulated the iconic choking gesture that Reggie Miller dedicated to filmmaker Spike Lee in 1994. This action occurred after Haliburton scored a crucial three-pointer, although the game went into overtime.
Yes, everyone wanted me to do it. I was thinking of saving it for the right moment that seemed right. And then, you know, the game went to overtime. So well, we’ll have to save it for later.
Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton, at the end of the match, commented that the imitation of the gesture was something everyone expected. The play, which initially seemed to secure the victory, ultimately took the game to overtime.
In 1994, Miller made the same gesture in front of Spike Lee, a well-known Knicks fan, after stringing together several decisive baskets in the fifth game of the Eastern Conference Finals. Miller scored 39 points that day, with 25 in the final quarter.
Haliburton’s basket tied the score at 125 points, allowing the Pacers to overcome a 14-point deficit in the last two minutes and 39 seconds of the game.
I didn’t know how much time was left, so I just tried to stay calm and get the shot off. I thought it was a three, it didn’t go in, but we got it done in overtime.
Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton, who scored 31 points, called the result “a great victory”, although he acknowledged that the Pacers have areas where they need to improve.
Haliburton expressed his concern about the Knicks’ dominance in rebounds, an aspect that the Pacers failed to adequately control in the game. Despite this, he was proud of the team’s performance.
The next matchup between the Knicks and the Pacers is scheduled for this Friday in New York, where the second game of the series will be played.
