The historic playoff animosity between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers was revisited as Pacers legends Reggie Miller and Tyrese Haliburton discussed the iconic 'choke sign' directed at Knicks fans. This gesture, first made by Miller in 1994 and reprised by Haliburton in 2025, remains a potent symbol of one of the NBA's fiercest rivalries. The Knicks, meanwhile, are riding high with recent form showing four wins in their last five games, including a dominant 130-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 26, 2026.
Reggie Miller created an indelible NBA moment in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. He scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden to lead Indiana to a 93-86 win. After hitting a key shot, Miller turned to Knicks superfan Spike Lee and flashed a choking gesture. The move instantly became part of playoff lore, symbolizing the Pacers' ability to pressure New York in critical moments.
Three decades later, Tyrese Haliburton brought it back. In Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, also at MSG, Haliburton hit a dramatic buzzer-beater to force overtime against the Knicks. He thought it was a game-winning three, though his foot was on the line. In the chaos, he turned toward broadcaster Reggie Miller and made the same sign. Indiana won in the extra period.
In a recent conversation, Miller admitted he thought the gesture's relevance had faded. "I didn't think it was going to have the legs that it did all these years," Miller said. "I thought actually it was kind of dead until someone had to bring it back." Haliburton revealed that Pacers fans had asked him to revive it ever since his 2022 trade to Indiana.
He was waiting for the perfect moment. "You can't just do it. Is the moment right? And then the moment just happened the right way," Haliburton explained. Miller confirmed the moment was genuine and unplanned, stating, "we never had any conversation about this. I had no idea." Their talk also covered Haliburton's severe Achilles injury in the 2025 NBA Finals, with Haliburton thanking Miller for a supportive locker room visit.
While revisiting past playoff battles, the current Knicks are building their own momentum. The team's recent form is excellent, with four consecutive wins to close their last stretch of games. After a 110-96 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on April 12, 2026, they responded with a commanding 136-96 win over the Chicago Bulls.
They then took that energy into a series against Cleveland, winning games on May 20 (115-104), May 22 (109-93), and May 24 (108-121). This 4W-0D-1L run shows a team hitting its stride, a fact fans can track on our [stats](/stats) page. For New York, the choke sign is a reminder of past postseason pain, but the squad list is writing a new chapter focused on future playoff success.
The Miller-Haliburton discussion shows how specific moments can define a rivalry for generations. For Knicks fans, the choke sign is a lasting image of playoff frustration. For the Pacers, it represents clutch performance under extreme pressure at Madison Square Garden. These narratives fuel competition and raise the stakes whenever the two franchises meet.
It connects different eras of players and fans. As the Knicks continue their strong run, the history with Indiana adds an extra layer of intensity to any potential future playoff matchup. The legacy of those moments ensures that Knicks-Pacers games are never just another date on the [schedule](/fixtures).
