Tyrese Haliburton continues to carve out his place in the storied rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. His impact was felt yet again during Game 7.
The Pacers point guard asserted his dominance in the first half, racking up an impressive 16 points and engaging in some spirited banter with fans seated courtside at the Madison Square Garden.
After the game, reporters asked Haliburton about the exchange, especially if he picked a fan to talk trash to. Haliburton responded:
"Yeah they picked me"
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During the game, Haliburton could be seen passionately exchanging words and gestures with fans as he made his way towards the Pacers bench.
This fiery exchange unfolded after the Knicks called a timeout with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter, with the Pacers holding a commanding 34-22 lead.
Tyrese Haliburton's animated interaction with the crowd only added fuel to the intensity of the moment, fueling the flames of the longstanding rivalry between the two teams.
Tyrese Haliburton continues fans altercation like Reggie Miller at Madison Square Garden
The exchange between Tyrese Haliburton and the spectators evoked a nostalgic aura reminiscent of the era when Reggie Miller found himself as the primary target of disdain at Madison Square Garden.
Haliburton engaged in banter with a fan after sinking a 3-pointer, casually strolling back up the court with 3:57 remaining in the opening quarter. Fans threw verbal jabs following subsequent successful shots by Haliburton, culminating in a notable moment during a timeout called by the Knicks.
With just a minute remaining, Haliburton sunk another 3-pointer, bringing his first-quarter total to 14 points, punctuating the shot with a pointed gesture towards the spectators. These occurrences unfolded against the backdrop of high stakes, with both the Knicks and Pacers facing elimination in Game 7.
The victor would secure a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals, while the vanquished would see their season conclude. Sunday's pivotal matchup had already been marked by a tense atmosphere, evident in an earlier altercation that cleared both benches.
In the aftermath of Indiana's triumph, Haliburton made an appearance at the postgame press briefing donning a hooded sweatshirt adorned with a snapshot of Miller's renowned "choke" gesture aimed at Knicks aficionado Spike Lee during the 1994 postseason.
It constituted a daring sartorial statement by Haliburton, one he attempted to downplay with a hint of insincerity.
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