In a stunning Eastern Conference finals opener, the Indiana Pacers orchestrated an improbable comeback to defeat the Knicks in overtime. (AP/Adam Hunger)

- Pacers mount historic comeback, overcoming 14-point deficit in final three minutes to shock Knicks in overtime thriller.
- Haliburton channels Reggie Miller with clutch buzzer-beater and celebration, finishing with 31 points and 11 assists.
- Knicks suffer unprecedented collapse as 994-game winning streak with late 14-point leads comes to dramatic end.
Share
NEW YORK — Tyrese Haliburton was sure his jumper as regulation ended was going in, then wasn’t certain it had after it bounced high off the rim and hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.
He thought it was a 3-pointer to win the game, then quickly realized it was a 2 to tie. A lot to process, followed by just one thought with overtime looming.
“Then my focus just became winning it,” Haliburton said.
Historic Comeback Stuns Madison Square Garden
The Pacers did, finishing off their stunning rally by beating the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks led by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in regulation, but Aaron Nesmith brought the Pacers back with a flurry of 3-pointers.
Haliburton then hoped he had won it with another. With the Pacers down two and time running down, he started to lose control of his dribble, regained it and dribbled back out toward the 3-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 Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller did to Spike Lee while leading an Indiana comeback in a playoff game in 1994.
Clutch Performances Lead Pacers
Replay confirmed that Haliburton’s toe was on the line and it was a 2-pointer that tied it at 125. Andrew Nembhard eventually made the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds remaining in OT.
Game 2 is Friday night.
Haliburton had 31 points and 11 assists. Nesmith finished with 30 points, going 8 for 9 from 3-point range.
The Pacers won a game against Milwaukee in the first round when they trailed by seven points with 40 seconds left in overtime, then stole one from top-seeded Cleveland when they were behind by seven with 46 seconds remaining in regulation.
Another round, another comeback.
“It’s always special. It’s always fun,” Nesmith said. “This is what we live for.”
Knicks’ Late Collapse Proves Costly
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 the Knicks 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 postseason.
Teams leading by at least 14 points in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter had been 994-0 since detailed play-by-play began being kept in 1997-98.
“Give them a lot of credit. They closed the game out like they’ve been doing all playoffs,” Brunson said. “Just not really good on our part.”
The Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 7 of the East semifinals at Madison Square Garden last year, routing a team that had been decimated by injuries.
This was an entirely different way to win, with the Pacers looking all but out of the game after the Knicks’ 14-0 run with Brunson on the bench pushed New York’s two-point lead to 108-92.
Even after Nesmith started to get hot, the Knicks seemed safe when Brunson’s 3-pointer made it 119-105 with 2:51 to go. But Nesmith would later hit consecutive 3s and both free throws when the Knicks fouled him intentionally so he couldn’t try to tie it with another, giving Indiana the chance to tie on Haliburton’s shot.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
RELATED TOPICS:
Israel Pounds Gaza City Suburbs, Netanyahu to Convene Security Cabinet
1 day ago
Trump Says He Will Order Voter ID Requirement for Every Vote
1 day ago
Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla Heading for Gaza With Aid
1 day ago
Chicago Mayor Says Police Will Not Aid Federal Troops or Agents
1 day ago
Post-War Gaza Plan Sees Relocation of Population, ‘Digital Token’ for Palestinian Land: Washington Post
1 day ago
Labor Day Quiz: Do You Know What a Knocker-Upper Is?
1 day ago
Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign
2 days ago
Trump Says Rudy Giuliani Will Receive Top US Civilian Honor
16 minutes ago
Categories

Trump Says Rudy Giuliani Will Receive Top US Civilian Honor

Aid Flotilla for Gaza Departs Barcelona After Stormy Weather Turnaround

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 18,748 Acres in Sierra National Forest

Israel Pounds Gaza City Suburbs, Netanyahu to Convene Security Cabinet

Trump Says He Will Order Voter ID Requirement for Every Vote

Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla Heading for Gaza With Aid
