Meta Description: In a stunning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith spearheaded the Indiana Pacers’ comeback victory over the New York Knicks, overcoming a 17-point deficit to win in overtime.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Game Overview
- Tyrese Haliburton’s Stellar Performance
- Aaron Nesmith’s Clutch Shooting
- Knicks’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse
- Overtime Highlights
- Post-Game Reactions
- Looking Ahead to Game 2
- Conclusion
Introduction
The Eastern Conference Finals opened with an exciting Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This anticipated matchup did not disappoint providing an action-packed game that ended with a last-second victory win for the Pacers in overtime.
Game Overview
The Pacers defeated the Knicks 138-135 in overtime. Indiana came back from 17 down in the fourth quarter to complete the final chapter of their near-victory scripted comeback.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Stellar Performance
Tyrese Haliburton was a catalyst for Indiana, finishing with 31 points and 11 assists respectively. He quickly grew into the leadership role for the Pacers and was the floor general. The most poignant moment during the game was Haliburton’s floater (or what he thought to be a game-winning three pointer) just before the end of regulation which won the game. Upon review, the referees deemed that Haliburton’s foot was on the line, thus awarded the basket as a two-pointer, which sent the game to overtime.
Aaron Nesmith’s Clutch Shooting
A career-best performance from Aaron Nesmith was leading to 30 points and 8 of 9 from deep. Nesmith’s late-game momentum was the catalyst for the Pacers’ end-of-game rally, as he hit five three-point shots late in the fourth that erased the lead from the Knicks and forced an extra period.
Knicks’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse
The Knicks had what appeared to be an insurmountable lead with just under three minutes remaining when the game took a dramatic turn. Jalen Brunson, who had an incredible performance of his own, finished scoring 43 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 35 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. What happened next would write the story for both teams, as the Knicks combined late-game misses from the charity stripe along with a flurry of threes from the Pacers.
Overtime Highlights
Overtime revealed a much different Pacers team. The pace was much quicker once overtime started, as seen on Andrew Nembhard’s go-ahead layup and Obi Toppin’s dunk to put the Pacers ahead for good. The Knicks were cold from deep when several good shots could have turned the game’s outcome considerably.
Post-Game Reactions
The Pacers’ locker room was ablaze with joy, celebrating a very hard-thought victory where toughness and resiliency were obvious. Coach Rick Carlisle commended his team for their versatility, while praising Haliburton and Nesmith for their contributions. The Knicks faced blame for failing to close it out, given missed opportunities and decisions based on a loss of focus.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
Game 2 is set for Madison Square Garden on Friday night. The Pacers will want to continue their momentum, while the Knicks will look to get together to even up the series. Both teams will make adjustments, so we are headed for yet another exciting game.
Conclusion
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals offered a compelling story of resurrection and sweep in a format that was hard fought all together. The Pacers won with special contributions from Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith and established a pattern that will offer more to come as the series persists.
Note: This article is based on the latest available information as of May 22, 2025. For the most current updates, please refer to official NBA sources and news outlets.
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