Only at Madison Square Garden: One of the Greatest Playoff Endings in NBA History
Drama, miracles, a jaw-dropping comeback — words barely do justice to what unfolded at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. Final score after overtime: 138–135 in favor of the Pacers.
The raw numbers are staggering: Indiana trailed by 14 points with just 2:41 left in regulation. Still down by eight with 40 seconds to go. What followed was nothing short of historic.
If Reggie Miller had passed on before this night, some might have believed his spirit had taken hold of Aaron Nesmith. The Pacers guard went nuclear from deep, draining five clutch threes when his team needed them most. He shot with the swagger of Stephen Curry, launching from well beyond the arc — eight meters out and nothing but net. And let’s be honest: how do you stop Steph Curry when he’s in the zone?
The Knicks, to their credit, clung to their lead with everything they had. But then came Tyrese Haliburton, who took matters into his own hands on the final possession. In classic modern NBA fashion, he pulled up from the three-point line — no driving, no mid-range, just a gutsy launch from distance as the buzzer sounded.
The shot? A spiritual sequel to Kawhi Leonard’s legendary game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers. This one ricocheted high off the rim and fell — softly, perfectly — through the hoop. Bedlam on the court. Indiana thought they had won.
But not so fast. The moment went from iconic to infamous. Replays showed Haliburton had stepped on the line — just like Kevin Durant in that unforgettable game against Milwaukee. It was ruled a two-pointer. Overtime. Five more minutes of breathless basketball.
Final stat lines: Haliburton finished with 31 points and 11 assists. Nesmith added 30. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson exploded for 43, while Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 35.
Catch your breath, and if you missed it — catch the replay. This was basketball at its absolute peak. Only at Madison Square Garden.
