The Pacers mounted one of the greatest comebacks in recent postseason history on Wednesday night, turning a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit into a 138-135 win vs. the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The match was a slugfest filled with spills and thrills. Fueled by Aaron Nesmith’s and Tyrese Haliburton’s heroics, Indiana captured a decisive victory. The duo left an indelible mark in their franchise’s burgeoning rivalry with New York, too.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Pacers comeback vs. Knicks, explained
Indiana trailed by 14 with 2:51 left in the fourth, appearing effectively resigned to a Game 1 defeat. Nesmith and Haliburton had other plans, spearheading the Pacers’ rally with a barrage of long shots.
Nesmith launched five triples in the final three minutes of regulation. All five found their target, nestling calmly into the net amid an increasingly quiet Madison Square Garden crowd.
WHAT A NIGHT FOR AARON NESMITH ‼️
🎯 30 PTS (20 in 4Q)
🎯 8 3PM (6 in 4Q)
🎯 2 BLKAt his best when the lights were brightest 😤 pic.twitter.com/cbX3q8Ned2
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
Nesmith produced 18 points in quick succession to put Indiana on the ascendancy. Haliburton, who canned a three-pointer of his own to spark Indiana’s rally, returned to the fore as the clock dwindled. OG Anunoby missed a free throw with 7.1 seconds left, giving the Pacers an opportunity to tie — or even win the game.
The ball found its way to Haliburton, one of the league’s premier players in crunch time. He showed why as the clock struck 0.0, sinking a step-back triple at the horn to deliver a win to Nap Town.
WHAT A SHOT BY TYRESE HALIBURTON 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/8wEwdkeRwZ pic.twitter.com/s497GwRWi9
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
At least, that’s what it seemed like. Replay review showed that Haliburton’s foot grazed the three-point line. The game was level at 125. And the match was headed to overtime.
TYRESE. HALIBURTON. CLUTCH!!!!! https://t.co/zpKpukSFkS pic.twitter.com/vJhMWyz1Cy
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
The next five minutes were a blur, filled with highlight-reel baskets and a frenzy of whistles. Haliburton continued to flash his considerable talents, juking his way to the cup for a timely layup before finding Andrew Nembhard with a no-look assist to give Indiana a one-point advantage with just 26 seconds left.
When the dust settled on the match, it was Indiana who frolicked beneath the MSG lights, victorious in a contest that seemed nigh on impossible to win a few minutes before.
17-POINT COMEBACK.
1-0 LEAD IN THE ECF.VIBES ARE HIGH FOR THE PACERS 😤 pic.twitter.com/fDYw4PTcM9
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
In fact, as far as NBA history is concerned, the Pacers’ comeback was an impossibility; prior to Wednesday night, no team down 14 or more with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter of a playoff game had ever come back to win said matchup, per the Associated Press.
Records are made to be broken, however, and with a flurry of threes — and two-pointers masquerading as threes — Indiana pushed itself one game closer to the NBA Finals.
MORE PACERS-KNICKS GAME 1:
