Caitlin Clarkis likely to be sidelined proper now, however that did not cease her from stealing the highlight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night time.
The Indiana Fever star, at present nursing a quad damage, confirmed as much as Recreation 3 of the NBA Finals along with her teammates and introduced some severe Pacers power. As Tyrese Haliburton and the squad mounted a livid fourth-quarter comeback towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Clark jumped to her toes and threw down a bit of Indiana basketball historical past – Reggie Miller’s iconic “choke” gesture.
Clark is getting comfy on the bench however as a coach
The second got here simply because the Pacers accomplished a 32-18 run within the ultimate quarter, flipping the script on a five-point deficit and locking in a 116-107 win. The celebration wasn’t simply spontaneous – it was a nod to one of the crucial well-known trash-talk moments in NBA historical past, when Miller taunted Spike Lee and the Knicks throughout a legendary playoff comeback in 1994.
When the Previous Meets the Current – and Goes Viral
Clark’s reenactment immediately went viral, putting a chord with longtime Pacers followers who keep in mind that ’94 collection prefer it was yesterday. And this is not the primary time that gesture’s made a comeback. Haliburton pulled it out himself final month at Madison Sq. Backyard, when Indiana rallied from behind in Recreation 1 towards New York.
“I wished Reggie to see it greater than something,” Haliburton stated on the time by way of The Athletic. “We’re making an attempt to construct our personal legacy right here – however honoring those that laid the muse means the whole lot.”
Reggie Miller clearly authorized. After the sport, he shared a photograph of himself with Clark and Haliburton, captioning it: “LEGENDS RECOGNIZE LEGENDS #PacersFamily.”
Clark did not give interviews postgame, however cameras caught her and Haliburton hugging Miller by the tunnel – a full-circle second for a franchise that is all of a sudden feeling prefer it’s dwelling in a golden period once more.
Recreation 4 suggestions off Friday night time in Indy. If this retains up, Caitlin Clark would possibly want a jersey and a mic.
