In the world of basketball, if you have heard of Reggie Miller, then there is no way that you would not have heard of his astonishing 8 – point game which is regarded as one of the most defining moments in the history of the NBA. This astonishing feat came on 7th May, 1995 during the Eastern Conference Semifinal match between Indiana Pacers and the New York Knickerbockers. After being down by 8 points with 9 seconds to go, Reggie Miller not only stunned everyone watching but single-handedly led the Pacers to a remarkable victory at Madison Square Garden.
In this blog, we will go back in time and analyze every tiny detail regarding Miller’s 8-point game and how it changed the history of the NBA forever. If you are a Miller fan, then you have come to the right place because today you are in for a treat.
The Rivalry: Pacers vs. Knicks in the 90s
Before jumping onto the game itself, it is important to highlight the intense rivalry that existed between the two teams. Both the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks have given us exhilarating matches throughout the 1990s NBA playoffs. Each team tried to outdo the other by playing rigorous and tight defense.
With Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Charles Oakley leading the charge, the Knicks had a reputation for their sheer intensity,y and on the other hand, Reggie Miller and the Pacers were known for their sharp tactical and fast-paced approach.
Reggie Miller was a disliked player in New York, a badge he was proud of. Fans never cheered for him at Madison Square Garden, where he instilled more hatred in his fans by taunting the Knicks. These playoffs were different – they were personal.
Game Situation: Knicks in Control, Pacers on the Brink
Fourth Quarter Tension
The Pacers were losing to the New York Knicks at 99-105 with just 18 seconds remaining. Fans at Madison Square Garden stood anticipating their victory, while at the same time, celebrating Reggie Miller’s loss. Unbeknownst to them, the Pacers needed a miracle, and Reggie Miller delivered.
At that point, there was no timeouts available for the Pacers, which left them crossing their fingers for some good fortune at the expense of the Knicks.
Reggie Miller’s 8-Point Explosion – Second-by-Second Breakdown
1. First Three-Pointer (9.0 Seconds Left)
Everyone in the arena was aware of the inevitable shot attempt by Reggie Miller, as the Pacers in bounded the ball from the sideline. The New York Knicks preferred not to expect anything truly outrageous simply because they were looking to close the game out.
Miller was successfully able to cut the lead to three after Mark Jackson inbounded the ball to him. At this point Mark took one quick dribble to his right, planted his feet behind the three-point line and launched the ball over John Starks, the Knicks defender.
Once the shot went in, the score was 105-102, the Pacers had a chance to steal the game from the knicks. Now the Pacers were well within striking distance, all while under three seconds had passed. But yes, the Knicks still had a free throw and three-point lead. The game should’ve been over after these two based moves – an inbound and a free throw.
Nope, wrong, the game was tied.
2. The Steal and Another Three (7.5 Seconds Left)
While under immense pressure, the New York Knicks were looking to make an inbound. Anthony Mason, the forward from New York, got the ball for the inbound pass but put himself into quite the trouble by making the wrong call looking for a safe option.
Miller’s foot had scarcely touched the ground when he jumped back to launch yet another three-pointer.
The crowd watched with bated breath. Did he just shoot again?
Swish!
Miller scored another three-pointer from the top of the ark, bringing the game to an impossible 105-105. Less than 4.2 seconds have passed!
From the Pacers exploding their bench in praise and the Knicks gaping at the scoreboard to the total silence settling in at Madison Palace went nothing short of startling.
3. Knicks’ Free Throw Disaster (7.0 Seconds Left)
The opportunity was still not over for the Knicks. The game was tied and now fully rested on strategy; if the execution was impeccable, then victory was theirs to claim.
In the next inbound, John Starks received the ball and was promptly fouled by the Pacers to stop the time. Loses could never make these types of mistakes- Indiana sending Starks to the free-throw line instead of letting the Knicks shoot was a very calculated poor decision.
Now, everything was looking up for New York.
- Starks had the opportunity to retake the lead as he was at the free-throw line.
- Missed his first throw.
- How about the second? He missed that too!
Knicks’ star center, Patrick Ewing, earned the offensive rebound and was supposed to give the Knicks another chance. However, Ewing was off balance when he tried to score and squandered the chance.
Now, the ball was in Reggie Miller’s hands as he took the rebound.
4. Reggie Miller’s Game-Winning Free Throws (2.7 Seconds Left)
Right after Miller got the rebound, he was instantly fouled which meant free throws. Indiana had a shot at winning the game and Miller was confident he could put them in the lead.
The crowd went silent. All eyes were glued to the court as Miller had a chance to win the game and Knicks fans could not fathom the turn of events that unfolded. Just several seconds earlier, they were ahead by 6 points and now it seemed like Indiana was at an advantage.
The complete calmness that Miller displayed stood in sharp contrast to the chaos surrounding him, Off to the free throw line he went brimming with confidence.
- His first throw was perfect.
- Second throw was a swish.
Pacers were leading 107-105 as the clock winded down to 2.7 seconds. Both teams were at on the edge of their seats.
NY still had possessions and took a shot but as they tried to score, the buzzer for the game went off.
Game over.
Why Was Reggie Miller’s 8-Point Game Special?
1. Clutch Performance Under Pressure
While there are those who shine in other aspects of life, this man excelled in New York basketball. Scoring 8 points in 9 seconds is one of the hardest things to do in basketball. Some of the greatest players have missed this incredible opportunity. It is safe to say, Reggie Miller delivered when it mattered the most.
2. The Knicks’ Mental Collapse
It has to be mentioned how the New York Knicks fell apart in those last minutes. From the horrendous inbound passes to the missed free throws and everything in between, they made every mistake in the book. Everyone has to give credit to Miller for making every right decision.
3. Madison Square Garden Meltdown
For Knicks fans, this was one of the more painful moments. But for Reggie Miller? This was nothing short of astounding. Scoring 8 points in 9 seconds is a feat unmatched in today’s day and age.
The Legacy of Reggie Miller’s 8-Point Game
1. Cemented His Reputation as a Clutch Shooter
After this match, Reggie Miller is remembered as among the most clutch players in the history of the NBA. This moment showed that he would always rise to the occasion above anyone else.
2. Made the Knicks vs. Pacers Rivalry Even Bigger
Because of this game, the rivalry between Indiana and New York was taken to another level. Every single one of these encounters following this was filled with intense competition.
3. Inspired Future NBA Players
Those days we saw Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, or Klay Thompson hit clutch three pointers, we now are aware that there was little bit of Reggie Miller’s DNA in their game.
Lessons from Reggie Miller’s 8-Point Game
In case you are a basketball player, a coach or just someone seeking some form of motivation, there are invaluable lessons to learn from Reggie Miller’s 8 pointer.
1. Never Give Up, No Matter the Odds
Being down by 6 with 9 seconds to go? Most individuals would give up. Not Reggie Miller. His reality check self esteem is what transformed the result completely.
2. Stay Mentally Tough Under Pressure
The Knicks were defeated because they were losing their minds. Miller however was calm, focused, and executed brilliantly.
3. Take Advantage of Mistakes
Miller was afforded an opportunity by the blunders of the Knicks, but it was due to his smartness and self-esteem that those chances were not lost.
My Opinion
The 8-point game of Reggie Miller is all the talk and today, I will attempt to analyze the moment as one of the top in NBA history. No single game can be extended to category of points; rather the entire package from the mentality to the final 9 seconds executes an exhilarating drama.
If you are a fan of basketball, this is a must-watch game for you. It serves as an inspiration that as long as you are not willing to give up, everything is achievable.
Your thoughts? Would you consider Reggie Miller’s moment of scoring eight points in rapid succession to be the most brilliant set of clutch moments in the history of the sport?! 🏀🔥