Fans Blame Spike Lee for Knicks Loss

NEW YORK (AP) _ New York Knicks fans say there’s a reason the team blew Game 5 of the NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers: Spike Lee’s big mouth.

Fans calling all-sports radio station WFAN said the Pacers’ Reggie Miller got fired up and went on a 25-point, fourth-quarter scoring tear after the ″Do the Right Thing″ director baited him with ″trash talk″ from his courtside seat Wednesday night.

The Knicks were ahead when Miller came alive; they ended up losing 93-86.

Miller followed most of his baskets by screaming and gesturing at Lee, a Knicks fan.

″Spike definitely said something that set him off,″ Pacers forward Antonio Davis said. ″I’m not sure what it was, but Reggie took us on a ride after that.″

Lee said he did nothing to set off the scoring spree.

″That’s garbage,″ Lee said. ″I did not provoke him. He wants to beat the Knicks, not Spike Lee.″

Miller interspersed five three-pointers with caustic comments and gestures directed at Lee. Miller grabbed his throat to let Lee know his team was choking. Later on, he grabbed his crotch.

″That last thing was in bad taste,″ Lee complained. ″My wife was sitting with me, and she was highly offended.″

The Knicks now risk elimination today in Indianapolis.