The Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning comeback on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, rallying from a 14-point deficit with under three minutes remaining in Game 1 against the New York Knicks.
After Aaron Nesmith drilled five consecutive three-pointers and Tyrese Haliburton hit a wild buzzer-beater to tie the game at 125 and force overtime, Indiana ultimately escaped with a thrilling 138–135 victory—stealing a massive road win to open the series.
But while the on-court action was electric, much of the postgame conversation centered not on the players, but on the broadcast booth.
NBA legend and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who spent his entire playing career with the Pacers, was assigned to call the series for TNT—sparking widespread criticism from fans who viewed the decision as a clear conflict of interest.
Following the game, Miller drew intense backlash on social media for his perceived bias toward Indiana throughout the broadcast. Many also took issue with his interaction with Haliburton during the postgame interview, accusing him of unprofessional behavior, when he's supposed to be unbiased towards both sides for a national broadcast.
Fans reacted to Miller's commentary in Game 1:
"It is disgraceful to have a clear Pacer on this call. I watched on mute," a fan said.
"It is absurd to have Reggie Miller call the game of Indiana vs New York," another fan posted.
Someone else added, "TNT shouldn’t have Reggie doing this series. He’s clearly pulling for Indiana and it shows in his giddy analysis."
One more fan commented, "Why is he doing the game, this is embarrassing."
Reggie Miller watches on during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.
Reggie Miller watches on during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Reggie Miller is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history—and unquestionably the greatest Pacer of all time. But his legacy also includes a long-standing rivalry with the New York Knicks, making his presence on the broadcast for Game 1 of the Pacers-Knicks series all the more controversial.
Tyrese Haliburton’s “choking” gesture after hitting a clutch shot was a clear nod to Miller’s infamous taunt at Madison Square Garden during Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, when he scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter to lead an unforgettable comeback over the Knicks.
Now, decades later, Miller happened to be on the call for yet another jaw-dropping Pacers comeback against New York. And while some fans appreciated the poetic symmetry, many were far less amused.