Happy Birthday, Reggie: Top 3 Miller moments
Reggie Miller turned 51 on Wednesday. While younger fans may know him best as a TV analyst (and perhaps an acquired taste), the Indiana Pacers legend is one of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history.
Miller demonstrated a flair for the dramatic over his 18-year playing career, including these three memorable moments.
3. Buzzer-beater vs. Bulls, 1998 Eastern Conference finals
Playing on an injured ankle, Miller took the inbounds from Derrick McKey with the Pacers trailing by one in Game 4. Outrunning Michael Jordan, he then buried the go-ahead three with 0.4 seconds left.
Jordan had one last chance for heroics of his own, but missed the shot. The Chicago Bulls ultimately prevailed in seven games, however.
2. Reggie vs. Spike Lee, 1994
Miller was already a star, but he entered legend territory on June 1, 1994. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, Miller went off in the fourth quarter, scoring 25 of his 39 points and beginning a longtime battle with Spike Lee.
1. 8 points in 9 seconds, 1995
In Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinal, Miller again lit up Madison Square Garden. After hitting the initial catch-and-shoot three, Miller's true highlight here is stealing Anthony Mason's inbound pass, brazenly retreating behind the arc, and hitting another one to tie the game.
Miller sealed the win with two free throws. The Pacers went on to beat the Knicks in seven games, avenging their playoff loss from the previous year.