On Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers pulled off an incredible 138-135 win over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. The Pacers, who were trailing for most of the contest, mounted a remarkable 17-point comeback to snatch the win in overtime.
The hero of the night was Tyrese Haliburton. With the Knicks leading in the final seconds of regulation, Haliburton calmly nailed a two-pointer that tied the game at 125-125, sending it into overtime. His clutch performance capped off yet another high-impact outing in a stellar playoff run. Indiana takes a 1-0 lead in the series with this victory.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 1 Stats Shine Bright In Historic Playoff Run
Haliburton delivered an all-around masterclass performance on Wednesday. He finished with 31 points, 11 assists, and four rebounds. He shot 12-for-23 from the field and made 3 of 4 free throws. This performance is enough as the answer if critics like Stephen A. Smith, who doesn’t see Hali as a true superstar.
Tyrese Haliburton with 31 PTS, 4 REB, 11 AST, 1 STL as the Pacers get the 138-135 OT WIN over the Knicks & TAKE GAME 1 IN NY
INDY WITH A 17-PT COMEBACK pic.twitter.com/b7rxEUVtfo
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) May 22, 2025
Even more eye-catching are his late-game heroics. Haliburton has not missed a shot in the final 30 seconds of a clutch situation in these playoffs. His game-tying bucket against the Knicks marked his fourth game-winning, go-ahead, or game-tying field goal in the last 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime. It tied him with the NBA legend Ray Allen’s 2009 record for most in a single postseason since 1998.
For Indiana, Pascal Siakam added 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while Aaron Nesmith chipped in with 30 points in 38 minutes. Myles Turner contributed 14 points and five rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard scored 15 points with four assists. Off the bench, T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 19 points, with Obi Toppin grabbing 10 rebounds.
The Knicks saw a strong showing from Jalen Brunson. Brunson exploded for 43 points, alongside five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns dominated with 35 points and 12 rebounds. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges both added 16 points each, and Josh Hart grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds while dishing out seven assists and adding eight points.