The Indiana Pacers stole Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the New York Knicks in improbable fashion. They were down by 14 with 2:50 left and came back to win. In the last 27 postseasons, teams were 0-970 when trailing by that margin before the Pacers' overtime victory. Indiana did the impossible again, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith.
Nesmith got on an all-time heater in the fourth. He drilled six 3-pointers in the final five minutes to get the Pacers back in it. He had 20 of his 30 points in clutch time to help Indiana steal the win and homecourt from the Knicks.
Haliburton made the iconic shot that sent the game to overtime. He thought it was a game-winning 3-pointer and immediately pulled out the Reggie Miller choke celebration, but it was ruled a two because his foot was on the line. Still, the Pacers got it done in OT to take the edge.
The Pacers flipped the narrative with an incredible comeback
The Knicks entered the series as the better clutch team. Jalen Brunson won Clutch Player of the Year and had just orchestrated a couple of masterpieces in the Celtics series to help New York pull that upset. Everyone thought it would be him closing the show, but Haliburton stole the crown in Game 1.
It took a 38-point fourth quarter and 13 in overtime for the Pacers to get this improbable win. It felt over with five minutes to go, but this team is special. They try to wear their opponents down and finish them off. It happened on Wednesday night in the most dramatic fashion.
The Indiana Pacers are three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. They won three ABA championships, but are still searching for their first in the NBA. It is on the plate this year. Tyrese Haliburton is elite and the supporting cast is deep. Winning it all won’t be easy, but performances like this only increase the belief.
The Pacers have a unique opportunity in Game 2 to put the series in a stranglehold. New York is extremely unlikely to come back from down 2-0 after losing both games on their home floor. Indiana needs a bit of extra juice, but it could happen. Pacers fans can’t wait to see the next showdown in this epic rivalry, especially after a special opener. Do not miss it.