"I'm not dumb enough to throw a punch in a playoff game" – Reggie Miller denied punching Ron Harper in heated 1998 EC Finals

Reggie Miller might have been a silent operator on the court during his time with the Indiana Pacers. However, that persona does not in any way mean that Uncle Reg will back down from anybody when pushed.

One player who Miller got into it with during the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals was Ron Harper of the Chicago Bulls. Their heated moments started in Game 3, but things got way uglier in the following contest.

At the time, Harper had tipped a pass by Derrick McKey. Going out of bounds, the Bulls guard could be seen pulling Uncle Reg as he was going down at the Bulls’ bench. The 6-foot-7 guard didn’t appreciate the actions of the 8th overall pick of the 1986 Draft as chaos ensued.

What punch?

Miller could be seen giving Harper a shove at the time. However, some, including Bulls head coach Phil Jackson, claimed that the UCLA product threw a punch.

“I was right there, and I thought he took a punch at his chest, and they (the officials) backed off of it,” Jackson said.

However, Miller pleaded innocence and explained his actions during that melee. The All-Star guard further added that with big stakes on the line, throwing a punch in the playoffs would be costly.

“I'm not dumb enough to throw a punch in a playoff game,” Miller said via UPI. “I was trying to push my way out. I was pushed off balance into the bench, and I was hit on the bench. I turned around to see who it was,” he added.

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Who got the last laugh?

In Game 4, it would be best to note that Miller was not 100% healthy. He was dealing with a sprained ankle, which he sustained in the Pacers’ Game 3 victory, 107-105.

“There's no way I should have been out there for 42 minutes. I thought I was killing us. I was just a stand-alone jump shooter out there,” Miller said then.

Regardless, it would take more than an ankle injury to prevent the 11th overall pick to deliver in the clutch. With 2.9 seconds left in the game, Miller was able to elude the defenses of Harper and Michael Jordan to hoist a three-pointer.

That show pushed the Pacers ahead, 96-94, and ultimately proved to be the game-winning basket. It also allowed Indiana to tie the series with the Bulls at 2-2.

The Pacers made a good account of themselves, taking Jordan and the Bulls to the limit. In the end, Chicago won the series, 4-3, advancing to the 1998 NBA Finals and ultimately winning its sixth NBA title in franchise history.

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