Reggie Miller couldn’t hide his heartbreak after watching the Indiana Pacers fall short in Game 7 of the NBA Finals—and lose their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, in the process. Posting on Instagram, the Pacers legend wrote, “I felt the gut punch to Pacer Nation,” referring to Haliburton’s Achilles injury and the emotional toll of the Finals loss. Miller’s message, paired with a picture of Haliburton, reflected his deep pride in the team’s grit and unity this postseason.
Despite Haliburton’s early exit in the first quarter, TJ McConnell stepped up once again, scoring 12 of the team’s 20 points in the third quarter. The Pacers trailed by just four at one point before the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away behind MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 29 points and 12 assists.
After the final buzzer, McConnell shared a heartfelt hug with Miller, who had been supporting the team throughout their playoff journey. It was a symbolic passing of emotion between two eras of Indiana basketball. Though the Pacers didn’t bring the championship home, their fight earned the respect of their fans—and of a legend who once carried the franchise himself.
Miller summed it up best: “This too shall pass.”
(This is a building story…)
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