In one of the most unforgettable playoff comebacks in recent NBA history, the Indiana Pacers stunned the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 21 at Madison Square Garden. What began as a dominant showing by the Knicks quickly turned into a dramatic collapse as the Pacers erased a 17-point deficit in the final six minutes of regulation.
The Knicks had all the momentum through most of the game. Led by Jalen Brunson’s 43 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 35-point, 12-rebound performance, New York controlled the pace and the scoreboard. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were ahead 111-94, and it looked like they were about to cruise to a 1-0 series lead.
But the Pacers had other plans.
Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 of his 30 points in just the final minutes. He made six three-pointers in that span — an NBA playoff record for most threes in a single quarter. Each shot chipped away at the Knicks’ lead, and the crowd at Madison Square Garden, once electric, slowly grew nervous.
With just seconds remaining, Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 31 points and 11 assists, hit what appeared to be a game-winning three-pointer.
He celebrated with a gesture made famous by Pacers legend Reggie Miller — the “choke” sign directed at the Knicks’ bench and fans. After an official review, it was ruled a two-pointer because Haliburton’s foot was on the three-point line, tying the game instead of winning it.
That moment sent the game into overtime, where the Pacers kept their foot on the gas. The Knicks looked rattled and fatigued, committing four turnovers in the extra period. The Pacers, on the other hand, maintained their composure and hit timely shots to complete the comeback.
Head coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s toughness and belief. “This is one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever been a part of,” Carlisle said in the postgame press conference. “To do it in Madison Square Garden, under that kind of pressure, says everything about who we are.”
The loss was especially painful for the Knicks and their fans. Madison Square Garden, known as “The Mecca of Basketball,” fell silent in the final moments of overtime as the realization of the collapse set in. For a franchise that has a long and emotional history with the Pacers dating back to the 1990s, this game brought back memories of previous heartbreaks — including Reggie Miller’s eight points in nine seconds in the 1995 playoffs.
New York head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized that the series is far from over. “We have to learn from this and respond in Game 2,” Thibodeau said. “It’s a seven-game series for a reason. This one hurts, but we’re not done.”
The Pacers now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, and they’ve stolen home court advantage from the Knicks. Game 2 is set for Friday, May 23, again at Madison Square Garden. All eyes will be on the Knicks to see how they respond, and whether the Pacers can keep up their momentum.
For now, Indiana has delivered a powerful message: no lead is safe, and no moment is too big.
