NBA: Pacers Rally to Stun Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals Opener
The Indiana Pacers overturned a 14-point deficit with just 2 minutes and 51 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, then defeated hosts New York Knicks 138-135 in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals in the NBA.
At Madison Square Garden in New York, the Knicks—playing in their first conference final in 25 years—dominated most of the game and extended their lead to 14 points with about three minutes left. But Indiana mounted a fierce comeback, hitting six three-pointers, including five by Aaron Nesmith, who scored 20 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.
Pacers fans compared Nesmith to former team star Reggie Miller, recalling the fierce rivalry between the two teams in the 1990s.
The Pacers thought they had sealed the win when Tyrese Haliburton hit a last-second three-pointer, but the referees ruled it a two-pointer, tying the game at 125-125 and sending it into overtime.
Overtime was equally dramatic, with the Knicks taking the lead with 35 seconds left thanks to a basket by Jalen Brunson. However, Indiana responded with a basket from Andrew Nembhard and a spectacular dunk by Obi Toppin, a former Knicks player, to secure the win.
This marks the fourth time this season the Pacers have come back from a 14-point or greater deficit in the playoffs.
