NBA: Tyrese Haliburton leads Pacers to win in game 1 against Knicks

The energy at Madison Square Garden was electric as fans witnessed a rollercoaster playoff opener between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.

Tyrese Haliburton emerged as the undeniable star of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference finals. His calm and clutch step-back jumper at the buzzer forced overtime and kept the Indiana Pacers alive in a wild 138-135 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and took a 1-0 series lead.

With the Pacers down by 14 points and less than three minutes remaining, Haliburton’s poise under pressure was the catalyst for one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent playoff history.


After initially thinking his shot was a game-winning three-pointer, Haliburton mimicked Pacers legend Reggie Miller’s famous choke sign, pointing to Miller, who was calling the game on TNT.

After the win, Haliburton said, 'I'm so proud of the resilience of this group.'

Nesmith’s sharpshooting propels Pacers’ comeback

While Haliburton’s heroics stole the spotlight, Aaron Nesmith played a crucial supporting role, catching fire late in the fourth quarter by hitting four 3-pointers in the final minutes.

Nesmith’s six triples in the last quarter tied an NBA playoff record, keeping the Pacers within striking distance and eventually setting the stage for Haliburton’s clutch basket.

The Pacers overcame a 17-point deficit and a nine-point lead held by the Knicks with less than a minute left. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who combined for 78 points, struggled to close out the game despite a dominant 14-0 run earlier in the fourth quarter when Brunson was sidelined with five fouls.

Match statistics

Both teams shot efficiently from the field, with New York narrowly edging Indiana in field goal percentage (51.1% to 51%), but the Pacers had a clear advantage from beyond the arc, shooting 40.5% compared to the Knicks' 32.4%.

Despite being outrebounded 46-39, Indiana made up for it with superior ball control, committing just 7 turnovers to New York’s 15, and slightly edged the Knicks in assists, 26 to 24.

Knicks’ Big Lead Slips Away in Heartbreaking Fashion

New York looked in control after a 14-0 run that seemed to put the game out of reach, but mistakes in the final moments, including nearly turning over a late inbounds pass and missed defensive assignments, allowed Indiana to chip away.

Towns made a key free throw to extend the lead, but Nesmith’s free throws and Haliburton’s game-tying jumper forced overtime, where the Pacers ultimately clinched the victory.

Starting the game with a scorching 9-for-9 shooting streak, the Pacers showed from the outset that they were a serious threat. Their depth was evident as nine players scored at least four points.