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The New York Knicks were almost always in the driver’s seat in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks even had a moment during the game where their lead increased to 17 points. However, the Pacers mounted a comeback and erased the deficit. This led to a 138-135 overtime victory for Indiana to steal the first game of the best-of-seven series.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were still in the lead. However, the Pacers were determined to outperform the home team. With the clock winding down, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton secured the ball and forced a switch on Mitchell Robinson. Before the clock expired, the two-time All-Star attempted a shot from the 3-point area.
Because of a lucky bounce, the shot went in. However, it was ruled as a two-pointer since Haliburton’s foot was on the line, and it sent the game to overtime. In the final five minutes of the game, the Pacers took control and which led to the eventual win.
After the game, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau dropped the truth about the league in the playoffs.
“They can score the ball, Nesmith got loose, Haliburton hit big shots. You just can never let your guard down against them. No lead is safe,” Thibs said.
"You just can never let your guard down against them. No lead is safe."
Tom Thibodeau talks about the Pacers' comeback in the final minutes of regulation and overtime: pic.twitter.com/GqLWk31dpl
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 22, 2025
This isn’t the first time the Pacers have mounted a comeback in the 2025 NBA playoffs. During the first two rounds against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Indiana now holds a 1-0 lead in the series. They have a chance to add to their win on Friday at Madison Square Garden before travelling back to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.
Josh Hart believes the New York Knicks’ intensity dropped
The Game 1 loss was unexpected given how the New York Knicks started the game. Most of the time, they were in control but couldn’t keep up with the Pacers late in the game. As the players processed the loss, forward Josh Hart said that the Knicks’ intensity dropped during the most crucial moments of the game.
“We didn’t close the game out. Feel like our intensity dropped. We started playing slower, playing more into their hands,” Hart said.
“We let that one slip and now we just gotta make sure tomorrow we go in, watch tapes to see where we could be better and run back Friday.”
"We didn't close the game out. Feel like our intensity dropped. We started playing slower, playing more into their hands."
Josh Hart talks about the Knicks' fourth-quarter collapse in their loss to the Pacers: pic.twitter.com/GHm7ZCl0jR
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 22, 2025
The Pacers made the New York Knicks run. They had 13 fastbreak points, while Hart and the rest of the team only had five. They get another chance on Friday since it’s just Indiana’s first win of the series.
More must-reads:
- David Adelman earned his spot with the Nuggets
- Where Knicks' Game 1 collapse ranks in NBA playoff history
- The 'Active NBA players with a double-double in a Game 7' quiz
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