The New York Knicks suffered a devastating Game 1 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, blowing a 14-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation before ultimately falling in overtime, 138-135. It was a stunning collapse, one that will be talked about for years to come.
Jalen Brunson put on a phenomenal offensive display, scoring 43 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a strong 35 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Knicks’ defensive woes and struggles when Brunson was on the bench in foul trouble proved to be their undoing. Their 14-point advantage with just under three minutes left seemed insurmountable, but the Pacers launched a furious comeback.
Aaron Nesmith ignited the Pacers’ rally with a barrage of three-pointers. Then, with the game on the line and the clock ticking down, Tyrese Haliburton launched a long two-pointer that bounced high off the back of the rim and miraculously dropped through, tying the game at 125 and sending it into overtime. The shot was reminiscent of Reggie Miller’s legendary choke sign to Spike Lee, a moment Haliburton mirrored in his celebration.
The overtime period continued the back-and-forth excitement. Andrew Nembhard eventually hit the go-ahead basket for Indiana with 26 seconds left, sealing the Pacers’ improbable victory. Haliburton finished with 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith exploded for 30 points, hitting 8 of his 9 three-point attempts. This was a truly remarkable comeback, shattering a seemingly unbreakable record.
Before this game, teams leading by at least 14 points in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter were undefeated since the 1997-98 season. The Pacers’ victory marked the end of that incredible streak, and a brutal loss for the Knicks in their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. Game 2 is set for Friday night, and the Knicks will need to find answers quickly if they want to even the series.
The Pacers defeated the Knicks in a Game 7 last year, but this win felt different – a breathtaking comeback fueled by clutch shooting and a never-say-die attitude. The Knicks will need to shore up their late-game execution and defensive intensity to avoid a similar fate in the remaining games of the series. This game proved that anything can happen in the playoffs, even a collapse of this magnitude.
