NEW YORK — The Knicks had been the kings of comebacks this postseason.
But in Wednesday night’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they received an all-time-bitter taste of their own medicine.
The Knicks led by 17 points with 6:26 remaining in the fourth quarter and by nine points with under a minute left, only to lose, 138-135, in overtime at Madison Square Garden.
Tyrese Haliburton’s long stepback 2-pointer tied the game, 125-125, and forced OT.
For a moment, it appeared Haliburton had drilled a game-winner. Haliburton’s shot clanked off of the back of the rim and into the air, only to go through the net.
The Pacers celebrated as if they’d won, and Haliburton unleashed the choke taunt made famous by Reggie Miller – who was in the building as a TNT broadcaster – after a similarly improbable comeback at the Garden back in 1994.
But a review confirmed Haliburton’s toe was on the line.
Jalen Brunson’s driving floater with 35.2 seconds left in overtime gave the Knicks a 135-134 lead, but Andrew Nembhard’s lay-up with 26.1 seconds left served as the game-winner for Indiana.
That capped a devastating defeat for the Knicks in which the Pacers finished the fourth quarter on a 20-6 run in the final 2:39, during which Nesmith made four 3-pointers, including three in the final minute.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunony missed a free throw apiece in the waning seconds of regulation.
The Knicks had gone up, 108-92, with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter on the strength of a 14-0 run, all of which Brunson spent on the bench after drawing his fifth foul.
Brunson, who picked up that fifth foul at the 10:05 mark, checked back in with 5:00 to go and the Knicks up, 111-98. The Knicks led, 119-105, after Brunson made a 3-pointer with 2:51 left, but then the Pacers went on their run.
Haliburton finished with 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith scored 30 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter.
Brunson led all scorers with 41 points, while Towns had 35.
All of that occurred after the Pacers started the first quarter 9-of-9 from the field.
This series marks the third-seeded Knicks’ first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1999 and their ninth time facing the Pacers in the postseason.
Indiana won five of the previous eight meetings – including the last three – but the Knicks are 2-1 all-time against the Pacers in the conference finals. The Pacers eliminated the Knicks in seven games in the second round last year.
The Knicks look to bounce back on Friday night in Game 2 at the Garden.
Originally Published: May 21, 2025 at 11:28 PM EDT
