The Indiana Pacers pulled off a truly extraordinary fourth-quarter comeback, battling back from a significant deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime in a wild Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.
The Knicks appeared firmly in control at Madison Square Garden, leading by a comfortable 14 points with just 2:51 left in the game. However, the Pacers suddenly roared to life in stunning fashion, sinking six consecutive three-pointers, five of which came from the red-hot Aaron Nesmith, to claw their way back into contention.
Indiana seemed to have snatched victory in regulation. On the final play of the fourth quarter, Tyrese Haliburton dribbled back behind the arc, and his off-balance, back-pedalling shot appeared to hit the rim and drop in, sending the Pacers into premature celebration for what they believed was a famous win after being down by as many as 17 points earlier in the quarter.
However, video replay revealed that Haliburton’s foot was on the three-point line, downgrading the shot to a two-pointer and forcing the game into overtime.
Despite the gut-wrenching turn of events, the stunned Knicks battled on, taking a one-point lead with 35.2 seconds left in overtime after Jalen Brunson executed a driving, floating jump shot. But the Pacers had the final say. A crucial lay-up from Andrew Nembhard, followed by a six-foot dunk from Obi Toppin, sealed a thrilling victory for Indiana.
Haliburton led the Pacers with an impressive 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith’s incredible shooting spree saw him finish with 30 points on a remarkable 8-for-9 from beyond the arc.
For New York, Jalen Brunson was the top scorer with 43 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 35 points in a valiant effort.
This dramatic win marks the Pacers’ fourth comeback from a deficit of 15 points or more during this post-season, showcasing their resilience. Game Two of the series is scheduled to take place in New York on Friday.
