Reggie Miller was a player for the big moments, and there was no bigger or more hostile stage than Madison Square Garden. By 1994, the Indiana Pacers legend had already developed a reputation for tormenting the New York Knicks. And that year’s Eastern Conference Finals sealed his status as The Big Apple’s ultimate villain.
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The series was fiery, with the Pacers and Knicks battling, determined not to give an inch. Before tipoff in Game 1, Miller had famously said, “The Garden will be no place for the faint of heart today!” He then delivered a masterclass in clutch performance, scoring eight points in 8.9 seconds to give Indiana the early edge. But the Knicks were never going to be an easy opponent.
With the series tied at 2-2, Miller and the Pacers delivered another brilliant performance, capitalizing on New York squandering a 70-58 lead in the fourth quarter. The Knicks managed just 16 points in the final period while the Pacers scored 35 and won 93-86 to take a 3-2 series lead. Miller provided the icing: A celebration for the ages.
Miller had 39 points in the game, shooting 14-of-26 from the field and 6-of-11 from three-point range. There was no reason for him not to celebrate a dominant performance. Out came the iconic choke pose.
While he was dismantling the Knicks, one of the franchise’s biggest fans, Spike Lee, was on the sidelines jawing at Miller. The NBA legend looked him dead in the eye and clutched his throat with both hands, mocking the Knicks for collapsing in real time. That image of Miller is etched in NBA history on two counts.
In the 1994 Pacers-Knicks Playoff Series, Reggie Miller said, “Spike Lee who?”
Showing the 4th quarter choke sign while looking at him after every clutch basket. pic.twitter.com/V619xgPdQb
— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@oldskoolbballx) May 21, 2025
Miller delivered a masterclass in both trash talk and shot-making that night. For many fans, that single pose came to define the Pacers-Knicks rivalry.
But here’s where the irony kicks in: Despite that legendary Game 5, the Pacers couldn’t close the deal. They lost the next two games, and the Knicks won the series in Game 7, advancing to the Finals.
The choke Reggie mocked came back to haunt Indiana. It still upsets Miller to this day.
On All The Smoke, he said, “At the end of the day, it will always be on me. When you’re Superman and you have your superpowers, it’s always you. I failed those dudes.”
Although the entire team deserves credit, whether they win or lose, Miller bears the sole burden of the 1994 loss.
