They say history repeats itself at Madison Square Garden—especially when the villains return. Thirty years after Reggie Miller silenced the Garden with a choking gesture, Tyrese Haliburton sparked the same uproar under those bright lights. BetMGM’s newly released “Top 10 Villains in MSG History” list features three Hoosiers who have staked their claim. As echoes of past rivalries collide with this year’s playoff drama, the real question is which of these modern-day marauders will cement their legacy. And who will be left fighting for redemption?

After knocking down what he believed was a game-winning buzzer-beater, Haliburton let the Garden know exactly how he felt—by pulling out the same “choke” celebration as Miller. Though the replay revealed Haliburton’s foot was on the line, turning the three into a two and forcing overtime, the Pacers still pulled out a wild 138-135 win.

Naturally, this sparked memories of Miller’s signature moment back in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. That night, he silenced the Knicks faithful with a stunning comeback win and sealed it with that now-iconic gesture. Fittingly, Miller watched live on TNT during Haliburton’s performance, watching it unfold live. In Indiana, some celebrations just live forever.

Soon after, the buzz shifted to social media when BetMGM’s Insta page dropped a list of the “Top 10 Villains in MSG History.” And guess what? Three Pacers made the cut. Reggie took the top spot, Haliburton landed at No. 5, and Rik Smits sat comfortably at No. 9.

Miller, clearly amused, shared the post on his Instagram story with the caption: “I’d like to thank the Academy for this award.. 3 of the Top 10 occupied by members from the Hoosier state. Look @riksmits45, we’ve arrived.”

So why the Hoosier reference? Well, “Hoosier” has been Indiana’s calling card for over 150 years—used to describe its people, culture, and spirit. And while Haliburton now shares a historic celebration—and a villainous ranking—with the legendary Miller, he still felt a bit off about the moment.

Tyrese Haliburton feels he wasted Reggie Miller’s iconic move

To kick off the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, Tyrese Haliburton gave Knicks fans a déjà vu moment they won’t forget. With just 7.3 seconds left on the clock and the Pacers trailing by two, the All-Star guard took matters into his own hands. He pushed the ball up the court, briefly bobbled it, but quickly regained control, stepped back, and launched a high-arcing jumper. The shot kissed the back iron, bounced up, and dropped in—pure drama at MSG.

Naturally, it evoked Miller’s signature Game 5 moment. Thinking he’d just hit a game-winning three, he turned to the crowd and threw up Reggie Miller’s infamous “choke” gesture. But just like that, the moment turned on its head. The replay showed Haliburton’s foot was on the line. The shot only counted for two, sending the game into overtime.

Still, Indiana finished the job in the extra period. But after the final buzzer, Haliburton admitted the moment didn’t go quite as planned. “I thought it was a three. I tried to hit the celly and it didn’t work, but we finished it in overtime,” he told Allie LaForce. Moreover, Haliburton revealed he wasn’t pressured into it, but the timing just felt too perfect. “Everybody wanted me to do it, like last year at some different point. But it’s just got to — it’s got to feel right. And it felt right at the time,” he said. Yet, in hindsight, he added, “If I would’ve known it was a two — I would not have done it… I think I might have wasted it.”

Despite the misfire, the Pacers prevailed 138–135 in OT, and the spectacle helped drive unprecedented viewership. The Game 1 broadcast averaged 6.6 million viewers, peaking at 8.5 million late in the fourth quarter, making it the most-watched Eastern Conference Finals opener in TNT history. But with Game 3 shifting to Indiana, the question now is—can the Knicks flip the script, or will the Pacers keep pouring it on?