Tyrese Haliburton did it again.
With a toe on the 3-point line, Haliburton scored two in the final second of regulation, sending Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals into overtime, where the Indiana Pacers outlasted the New York Knicks 138-135 for a come-from-behind win.
The Knicks led for much of regulation and were ahead by double digits in the fourth quarter. But the Pacers stayed close enough to make a successful charge in the final minute of regulation. After Haliburton’s shot sent the game to OT, the Pacers took their first lead since the second quarter. Haliburton led the Pacers with 33 points and Aaron Nesmith added 30.
Haliburton has made a habit of sinking dramatic shots these playoffs. First, he scored the game-winner against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Then it was a buzzer-beater against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. And now this.
The Pacers and Knicks play Game 2 in New York on Friday.
Toppin slams it.
Brunson scores at the rim.
Nembhard lays it in.GET TO TNT NOW!!! https://t.co/GnIsZWX1ke pic.twitter.com/yNTnYSO26s
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
Indiana silences New York
Other than the music blasting on the jumbotron, it is silent in Madison Square Garden. The fans are not making a peep. Only days after 20,000 people left this building as if they had all simultaneously won the lottery, the mood has dampened.
The Pacers have pulled off comeback after comeback this postseason. They’ve done it against Milwaukee, against Cleveland. But none of them were like this. Not with their opponent leading by 14 points with 2:51 to go in regulation. Not with Nesmith splashing in 17 points, including five 3-pointers, just in the final three-and-a-fraction minutes. Not with their opponents’ offensive execution crumbling every possession on both sides of the floor. Not with Haliburton seemingly missing a shot but actually making it, the basketball gods tapping it back in after it shot into the sky off the back rim.
The comeback was loud. And the building is now silent. — Fred Katz, senior NBA writer
Nesmith keeps Pacers alive
Nesmith will live on in New York sports history as one of its great villains. A man who came out of nowhere to lead to one of the worst losses in New York sports’ illustrious history. With the Pacers down 113-98 with 4:45 left at Madison Square Garden, Nesmith scored 18 points on six 3s and two free throws to pull the Pacers back from the brink.
He scored 30 points in all, but those 18 points will go in a time capsule of hate for Knicks fans. Haliburton will get the highlights with the game-tying, toe-touching fadeaway 2 that was inches from a 3, and his Reggie homage, but Nesmith got Indiana there. — Mike Vorkunov, national reporter
What this means for New York
After spending the postseason coming back from large deficits to win games, the Knicks got a dose of their own medicine in Game 1.
After a dominant fourth quarter, it looked as if New York was going to breeze its way to a win behind solid defense and dominant rebounding. However, similar to how Boston did against the Knicks, New York played a bit arrogantly in the final minutes, shooting bad shots and rushing offense when it wasn’t necessary. The Pacers got hot from 3 and were able to string enough stops together to force overtime behind a Haliburton prayer in regulation.
This type of loss can potentially swing a series. New York had a chance to set the tone with a dominant win. Instead, it leaves Game 1 with a broken spirit and the Pacers having all the confidence in the world. This is probably the worst loss in recent Knicks history. A team that has shown time and time again how resilient it has been was the antithesis of that on Wednesday night. It may cost New York its season if it doesn’t respond well in Game 2.
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The good thing for the Knicks is that it doesn’t appear that Indiana has an answer for Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, as both starters dominated for most of the game. The Pacers did trap Brunson late, and that caused some issues, but we’ll have to wait until Friday to learn if they feel good enough to deploy that type of coverage for the majority of a contest. — James Edwards III, Knicks beat writer
Where Indiana can improve
Before the start of the series, the Pacers’ bench was viewed as an advantage, not just against the Knicks, but against all of their previous opponents in this postseason. Typically, their second unit is a strength, but as a group, the bench contributed one steal and more personal fouls (seven) than assists (three). The unit did, however, outscore the Knicks’ bench, finishing with 31 points. It was a very forgettable performance defensively from the Indiana bench until late in the game. Despite the win, they’ll need to help the starters on Friday as the Knicks attempt to bounce back.
Rebounding has been a point of emphasis for Indiana since the playoffs began, as it has been getting beat on the glass. In the first half, the Pacers had 19 total rebounds. Three were on the offensive end, and they were about even with the Knicks. Indiana added 20 rebounds in the second half and finished with 39 and 23 second-chance points. It looks like they’ve finally (maybe?) figured out the glass. — Shakeia Taylor, staff writer
(Photo: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
