8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Indiana Pacers 15 greatest playoff moments

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 28: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers sits on the scorer's table during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Conseco Fieldhouse on April 28, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 99-76 to take a 2-1 series lead. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 28: Reggie Miller #31 of the Indiana Pacers sits on the scorer's table during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Conseco Fieldhouse on April 28, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 99-76 to take a 2-1 series lead. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Indiana Pacers Reggie Miller
(Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images) /

Reggie Miller slashes the Nets

2002 Eastern Conference first round, game 5

It would be effectively the final Miller Moment in a long line of them.

Miller’s last star-level season was the previous one (2000-01), and his production had begun to wane — along with the rise of Jermaine O’Neal’s — in 2002, but he dug deep again in the Pacers series with the number one seeded New Jersey Nets.

Miller averaged 23.6 points in the best of five matchup, but the Nets countered with strong performances from Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn. The series was a draw through four, and headed back to East Rutherford for the final game.

What made this “moment” so special was the combination of two separate moments both at the end of the game.

With 5.1 seconds remaining and with the Pacers down three (basically Indiana’s sweet spot from 1992 to 2005), Richard Jefferson, then a rookie, stepped to the line for two free throws that could’ve sealed the game and the series for the Nets.

He missed both.

Off the rebound, O’Neal found Kevin Ollie. He then flung a pass haphazardly with 1.5 seconds left toward center court where Miller caught it with his back to the basket and 0.7 seconds left. Miller swiveled a prayer from Staten Island as the buzzer buzzed. He banked it in, and now tied at 96 the game went to overtime.

The Pacers led late in overtime, but the Nets snared the lead right back off of nice plays from Kidd and Martin. With 8.2 seconds left, down two, season on the line, Miller had the ball at the top of the arc while Nets defender Kerry Kittles hedged for a 3-pointer.

Miller instead forced himself through the lane, jumped from the bottom of the jump circle and double-handed a dunk down over three Nets, namely poor Aaron Williams. With the game now tied at 107, this classic went to a second overtime.

And it was there that the magic ended. Indiana was outscored 13-2 in the final overtime, a sober end to a thrilling contest. Reggie had 31 against New Jersey that evening. He would only score in the 30s eight more times in his hall-of-fame career, once more in the playoffs (during the Boston upset of 2005) but even in defeat, Miller time was bright again for one of the final times.

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