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The Knicks completely choked in the final minutes of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and Tyrese Haliburton made sure to let them know.
After the Indiana guard hit what he thought was a game-winning buzzer-beater, he pulled out a very familiar "choke" celebration as his teammates mobbed. After review, the shot was ruled a two (with replay showing Haliburton's foot was on the three-point line), sending the game to overtime. The Pacers nevertheless prevailed for a 138-135 win.
The choke gesture is famous in Indiana sports history, as Pacers legend Reggie Miller — who was calling Game 1 for TNT — pulled it out after leading a comeback win over the Knicks in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals
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Here's what to know about Tyrese Haliburton's choke celebration.
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Tyrese Haliburton choke celebration vs. Knicks
With the Pacers trailing by two at the end of the fourth quarter, Haliburton tried to get behind the three-point line to put up a shot for the win. He released the ball just before the buzzer sounded, and his shot bounced high off the back iron before falling through the net.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 22, 2025After the shot went in, Haliburton turned to the crowd and gave the choke sign made famous by Reggie Miller, who, nearly 30 years earlier, led an incredible comeback in the final minute to stun the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 22, 2025The game on Wednesday wasn't over, of course, but Indiana was able to secure the win in overtime and completely stun the Knicks. After the game, Haliburton joked that his celebration may have been a bit premature.
"I tried to hit the celly, but it didn't work," Haliburton said. "Everyone's been wanting me to do it, I tried to hold it for the right time"
"I'm so proud of the resilience of this group...We just kept going, kept fighting. That was fun."
Tyrese Haliburton joined Allie LaForce after dropping 31 points & 11 assists in our Game 1 comeback win over the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/4ka80c1WCp
Tyrese Haliburton stats Game 1 vs. Knicks
- Points: 31
- Assists: 11
- Rebounds: 4
- Steals: 1
- Blocks: 0
- FGs: 12-23
- FTs: 3-4
- 3Ps: 4-12
- TOs: 2
- Fouls: 3
- Minutes: 42:27
Haliburton led the Pacers in scoring and +/-, notching a +15 for the night. However, he would not have been in position for his buzzer-beating heroics had it not been for Aaron Nesmith's eight 3-pointers, five of which came in the final four minutes of the game.
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