The Indiana Pacers pulled off a miraculous comeback against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night. Tyrese Haliburton’s long jumper tied the game at the buzzer, sending it into overtime where the Pacers ultimately emerged victorious with a 138-135 win. Despite the Knicks holding a 14-point lead with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation, Aaron Nesmith’s three-pointers and Haliburton’s clutch shot turned the tide in favor of the Pacers.
Haliburton’s heroics didn’t end with the game-tying shot as he finished the game with 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith added 30 points, shooting an impressive 8 for 9 from beyond the arc. The game was a thrilling start to the playoff series between these longtime rivals from the 1990s, with the Knicks experiencing a heartbreaking loss in their first Eastern Conference finals game since 2000. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 43 points, but even his impressive performance couldn’t prevent the team from squandering their lead in the final minutes of regulation.
The Pacers’ victory defied the odds, with teams leading by 14 points or more in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter maintaining a perfect record of 994-0 since detailed play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98. Despite the Knicks’ efforts to hold onto their lead, the Pacers staged a remarkable comeback, culminating in Haliburton’s game-tying shot that sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy. The Pacers’ resilience in the face of adversity showcased their determination and ability to overcome even the most daunting of challenges, setting the stage for an intense and unpredictable series between these fierce rivals.
