![Reggie Miller puts his hands up. [Photo by Elsa/Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/becaa-16298043631149-800.jpg)
![Reggie Miller puts his hands up. [Photo by Elsa/Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.6625'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller, who is celebrating his 56th birthday on Tuesday, provided many memorable moments in the NBA to fans and opponents alike. The 56-year-old was one of the most hated New York Knicks foes during his heydays, but he relished not just the competition but also the villain role wherever he went.
Regardless of the 'enemies' he formed during his playing days, Miller, with his competitive nature and colorful personality, eventually endeared himself to fans and cities across the NBA landscape.
During his career, Reggie Miller averaged 18.2 points, three rebounds and three assists, but it was his ability to come through in the clutch that made him an icon.
Reggie Miller and his NBA heroics
There are few players in NBA history who have truly captivated fans both in the stands and in their homes quite like Reggie Miller did. The Indiana Pacers became an Eastern Conference powerhouse during the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to Miller's exploits.
Miller’s heroics were some of the most memorable, as his clutch performances cemented his entry in the Hall of Fame. On that note, here's a look at five of Reggie Miller’s most indelible moments:
#5 57 points against the Charlotte Hornets
![Reggie Miller celebrates [Photo by matt Campbell/AFP via Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/38756-16298044756937-800.jpg)
One of the best moments of Reggie Miller’s career happened on November 28, 1992 when he scored a career-high 57 points against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Indiana Pacers star was red hot that night, swishing 16 of his 29 field goals (with 4-of-11 from the three) and making 21 of his 23 free throws to record his highest points total in an NBA game.
After Reggie Miller made his first shot, it was a portent of things to come. He did his damage, not against a cellar-dweller, but against a Hornets team that was a playoff contender with Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning on the roster.
Miller’s ability to free himself with his constant movement without the ball was in full display in this game as his Pacers defeated Charlotte 134-122.
#4 Game-winner over Michael Jordan
![Reggie Miller vs Michael Jordan [Photo by Fernando Medina/Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/42ada-16298045902213-800.jpg)
Anytime you score a game-winner against Michael Jordan in a playoff game, it almost automatically ranks on top of your career-high achievements.
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Chicago Bulls ahead by one point, 94-93 with 2.9 seconds remaining, Reggie Miller escaped Michael Jordan’s defense during an inbound play as he received a pass at the three-point line. Miller then calmly swished home the 3-pointer to give the Indiana Pacers a 96-94 lead and the win.
In an episode of 'The Last Dance', the Bulls’ documentary that was released in 2020, Reggie Miller admitted that he pushed Jordan in order to get himself free.
“I just went right to his chest and lightly...lightly...lightly shoved him a little bit to create that space,” Miller said. “And the rest is history.”
#3 Indiana Pacers reach NBA Finals for the first time, Reggie Miller scores 17 points in 4th Quarter
![Reggie Miller (right) is guarded by John Starks [Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/c3447-16298050657432-800.jpg)
The Indiana Pacers had never reached the NBA Finals before or since Reggie Miller played for them. During the 1999-00 season, Miller's team made it to the championship round by defeating their nemesis, the New York Knicks.
Sensing that the moment that had eluded him for so long was finally within reach, the five-time All-Star made sure to finish off the Knicks for good. Reggie Miller scored 34 points overall. with 17 of them coming in the fourth quarter.
He drained three 3-pointers on 3-of-3 shooting, and made an immaculate 8-of-8 from the charity stripe to propel the Pacers to the Finals for the first time in franchise history.
#2 Taunting Spike Lee and a 25-point 4th quarter
![Reggie Miller (right) beats John Starks off the dribble [Photo by Manny Milan/Sports Illustrated]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/27fe8-16298055798816-800.jpg)
In Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Reggie Miller would put on a show that would be worthy of a “30-for-30” documentary by ESPN later on. The series was tied after four games as the two teams returned to New York.
Indiana were down by 12 points heading into the fourth quarter, and they needed the heroics of their superstar to get them out of the bind they were in. Reggie Miller obliged.
Waging a personal battle courtside against Knicks superfan Spike Lee, Miller put on a dazzling show. After scoring just 14 points in the first three quarters, the future Hall of Famer exploded for 25 points in the fourth as he put his hands around his neck while facing Lee to signify that his Knicks choked in the final 12 minutes.
It was classic Miller, as he and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Knicks 93-86 behind 39 points from the sharpshooting guard.
#1 8 Points in 9 Seconds
![Reggie Miller at the line against the Knicks [Photo by Noren Trotman/NBAE/Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/edd35-16298058758170-800.jpg)
The scene of arguably Reggie Miller’s greatest moment came during the 1995 Eastern Conference semi-finals against none other than their hated rivals, the New York Knicks. The Pacers, who led by 12 points going into the fourth quarter, were about to lose Game 1 of the series after squandering their advantage.
The Knicks were now ahead 105-99 with only 18.7 seconds remaining in the game. But Miller didn’t give up. He hit a quick 3-pointer with 16.4 seconds left in the game. Then he stole the ensuing inbound pass, and backed up to the 3-point line to nail another three to tie the game at 105-all.
The Pacers uncharacteristically fouled Knicks guard John Starks, but he surprisingly missed both free throws. Patrick Ewing grabbed the rebound off the second miss. but failed to make a shot.
Miller grabbed the board, was fouled by the Knicks before he calmly sank both of his freebies to give the Indiana Pacers a 107-105 lead with 7.5 seconds remaining. The Madison Square Garden crowd was stunned as the Pacers narrowly escaped with the win.
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