Reggie Miller Praises Refs for Controversial Knicks-Pacers No-Call
Reggie Miller Praises Refs for Controversial Knicks-Pacers No-Call originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Knicks and Pacers tangled at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night with the Pacers looking to secure their place in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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The Pacers led midway through the fourth quarter and looked to be in control as the Knicks' defense failed them several times late in the game.
The game included numerous controversial calls on both sides of the action including during the third quarter as Pacers power forward Obi Toppin raked Knicks guard Josh Hart across the face on a layup attempt.
NBA officials on the scene went to the video replay as they attempted to decide whether or not Toppin should have been assessed a flagrant foul on the play.
Obi Toppin during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The sequence started with Toppin draining a three from the top of the key.
He then raced down to the other end in a feverish attempt to block Hart on a drive to the basket that ended with a swipe at Hart's face that landed clean.
Some Knicks fans began questioning the call on X as the dust began to settle. They wanted a flagrant foul, but NBA on TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller thought that the eventual call of a common foul was the correct one.
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"I love it," Miller said alongside TNT play-by-play man Kevin Harlan.
"Thank you for bringing back playoff basketball."
The Pacers cruised to a 19-point fourth quarter lead with time ticking down in the fourth quarter as the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd reacted.
"And the Pacers...Starting to smell it (a trip to the NBA Finals)," Miller proclaimed as the fourth quarter wound down.
Related: Knicks Fans Enraged by Alleged Phantom Call Against Miles McBride Saturday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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