The Indiana Pacers demonstrated their resilience in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, continuing their trend as comeback contenders throughout the playoffs. Facing a daunting 116-102 deficit with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, the Pacers mounted an impressive 23-9 run to force overtime, ultimately securing a 138-135 victory against the New York Knicks.

Tyrese Haliburton was instrumental in the Pacers' victory, finishing the game with 31 points and 11 assists. Although he appeared to hit a buzzer-beater to win the contest in regulation, his foot was on the line, nullifying the dramatic attempt. Undeterred, the Pacers seized the momentum they had built and leveraged it in overtime, with late scoring contributions from Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard. The Knicks had chances to extend the game, but missed three-point attempts from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns sealed their fate as Indiana completed the astonishing comeback.

Haliburton's performance, bolstered by Aaron Nesmith's remarkable shooting, was key to the Pacers' success. Nesmith's shooting was exceptional, as he scored 30 points, including an impressive 8-of-9 from beyond the arc, with six of those three-pointers coming in the vital final minutes of regulation. The Pacers' ability to execute in pressure situations has been a hallmark of their playoff run, having previously closed out the Milwaukee Bucks with a dramatic comeback in the first round and a winning three-pointer in Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Meanwhile, the Knicks, though led by standout performances from Brunson and Towns, found it difficult to overcome the late surge by their opponents. With the series now underway, the Pacers hold the early advantage heading into the next matchup on Friday.