Reggie Miller 8 Points in 9 Seconds

Lore & Background

The sequence did not end there. After Miller's initial three-pointer and a steal, he hit another three, then calmly sank two free throws with 13.2 seconds left to cap the burst. The final free throws were met with stunned silence from the home crowd, but the eruption did not come until later—the game went to overtime, where the Pacers ultimately won, taking the series 4-3.

In Their Own Story

The noise inside Madison Square Garden was a physical force, a wall of sound meant to swallow the visiting Pacers whole. With 18 seconds left and the Knicks up by two, the ball found Reggie Miller's hands. He didn't flinch. A quick dribble to the right wing, a high-arcing release, and the net snapped clean—tied game. The Garden's roar faltered, but the Pacers' bench was already screaming, knowing what came next. On the inbound pass, with seconds evaporating, Miller caught, stepped back, and fired from deep again. The ball hung in the air like a held breath. Swish. Time expired.

Reader's Guide

The achievement occurred on May 7, 1995, during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. With 18 seconds remaining and trailing by two points, Reggie Miller scored eight consecutive points in a span of nine seconds to force overtime. Miller began the sequence by hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 94-94 with 5.9 seconds left. After the Knicks failed to score on their final possession, Miller received an inbound pass and hit another three-pointer as time expired for regulation, followed by two free throws in overtime (though the eight points specifically refer to the regulation-ending burst). This unprecedented display of clutch shooting forced the game into overtime, which Indiana won 95-94. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. It remains the benchmark for individual heroics in a single possession in NBA history, a feat so audacious that it's still replayed every May. The play didn't just shift the momentum of that series—it detonated it, propelling the Pacers to a sweep and defining Miller as the ultimate closer, a man who thrived when the lights were brightest and the Knicks' crowd was loudest.

Did You Know?

• Reggie Miller scored all eight points on two three-pointers and two free throws over multiple possessions in the final 8.9 seconds of regulation.
• The play occurred in Madison Square Garden, the home court of the New York Knicks, making the feat even more daunting for the visiting Pacers.
• This moment is frequently cited as the catalyst that elevated Reggie Miller to all-time NBA legend status despite never winning a championship.
• The 1995 series victory allowed the Pacers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic.