The Knicks had been the kings of comebacks this postseason.
But in Wednesday night’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they received a 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 at the Garden. 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, prompting OT.
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, 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.
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/05/21/knicks-pacers-game-1/