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In-stadium commentary at Mt SmartPacers break Knicks hearts with dramatic NBA playoff win
AP • May 22nd, 2025 3:30 pm
Photo: AP
Tyrese Haliburton has tied the game with a long jumper that bounced high off the back of the rim and in as time expired in regulation, then Indiana went on to finish off their stunning rally by beating New York 138-135 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks led by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in regulation on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, but Aaron Nesmith brought the Pacers back with a flurry of late three-pointers.
Haliburton then hoped he had won it with another. With the visitors down two and time running down, he started to lose control of his dribble, regained it and dribbled back out toward the three-point line. He fired up his jumper and when it finally fell in, he raced toward the sideline and made a choke signal to the crowd, like Indiana Hall of Famer Reggie Miller did to Spike Lee while leading a Pacers comeback in a playoff game in 1994.
Replay confirmed that Haliburton's toe was on the line and it was a two-pointer that tied it at 125. Andrew Nembhard eventually made the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds remaining in overtime.
Game 2 is Friday night, also in New York.
Haliburton had 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith finished with 30 points, going 8 for 9 from outside.
It was a thrilling start to the ninth playoff matchup between these fierce rivals from the 1990s — but a deflating finish for the Knicks in their first Eastern Conference finals game since 2000.
Jalen Brunson scored 43 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points and 12 rebounds. But New York couldn't protect the big lead they built while Brunson was on the bench in foul trouble in the fourth quarter and had a collapse unlike any other in the post-season.
Teams leading by at least 14 points in the final 2:45 of the final period had been 994-0 since detailed play-by-play began being kept in 1997-98.
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