The Indiana Pacers demonstrated remarkable resilience in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, further solidifying their reputation as comeback specialists. Despite facing a daunting 116-102 deficit with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, the Pacers executed a stunning 23-9 run to force overtime, ultimately emerging victorious with a final score of 138-135. Although Tyrese Haliburton appeared to seal the win with a deep buzzer-beater, his foot was on the line, marking the shot as a two-pointer. Nonetheless, Indiana carried their momentum into the extra period, where critical contributions from Obi Toppin and Andrew Nembhard paved the way for the win. Missed opportunities from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who had chances to force double-overtime, added to the heartbreak for the Knicks as the Pacers took a commanding lead in the series.

Haliburton was pivotal in the Pacers' success, finishing the game with 31 points and 11 assists, showcasing his ability to deliver in clutch moments. However, it was Aaron Nesmith's exceptional three-point shooting that provided the necessary support, as he contributed 30 points with an impressive 8-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Six of Nesmith's three-pointers came during the critical final five minutes of regulation, serving to demoralize the crowd at Madison Square Garden. This remarkable performance added to the Pacers' storied playoff run, as they had already completed a dramatic comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and achieved a thrilling overtime victory in Game 2 of their second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The defeat was especially painful for the Knicks, who had put forth outstanding individual performances, notably from Brunson, who scored 43 points and dished out five assists, and Towns, who tallied 35 points and 12 rebounds. Towns was instrumental during critical stretches in the fourth quarter while Brunson was on the bench due to foul trouble, leading to a sense of optimism among the home crowd. However, Indiana capitalized on Brunson's return in the closing moments to unleash their impressive run. From the outset, it was evident that the Pacers were unfazed by the atmosphere in a stadium where they eliminated the Knicks in Game 7 of the previous year's playoffs. They opened the game by making their first nine shots, establishing a frenetic pace that allowed both teams to make significant runs. New York initially seized control with a 69-62 halftime lead, as Brunson excelled in attacking the rim and Towns found his shooting touch from long range, supported by pivotal contributions from Mikal Bridges. However, the Pacers continued to fight back, highlighted by Haliburton's scoring surge in the second quarter and Pascal Siakam's offensive resurgence in the third. As the game progressed, New York momentarily created separation in the fourth quarter, primarily due to Towns' performance, but the Pacers' capacity for resilience proved to be the defining characteristic of their 2023 playoff campaign as they seized the series lead heading into Game 2.