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Stephen A. Smith Devastated After Incredible Pacers' Comeback Spoils Knicks' Game 1

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated May 22, 2025 12:35 PM ET

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals saw the New York Knicks suffer a stunning 138-135 loss in overtime to the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter and were up by 14 with less than three minutes remaining, but were still unable to come away with the win.

The Knicks got a taste of their own medicine here, as they had twice come back from 20-point deficits against the Boston Celtics in the Conference semifinals. Aaron Nesmith led the charge for the Pacers with 20 points in the fourth quarter to help pull off the unlikeliest of victories.

Knicks fans haven't been in good spirits following that defeat, and Stephen A. Smith is no different.

Smith had been a long-suffering Knicks fan and has been thrilled by their recent success. He picked the Knicks to beat the Pacers in seven games and was stunned by what he saw in Game 1.

In the lead-up to "First Take," Smith expressed his frustrations following the Knicks' collapse.

"I am having a very, very bad morning," Smith said. "Look at my face, I'm not in a very good mood. It was supposed to be orange and blue skies, but as you can see, there's rain descending down upon us. Thunder, yes, I'm in OKC, but damnnit, I'm talking about the New York Knicks. You saw what happened last night. They were in the lead, they had a 17-point lead."

Smith wildly blamed his assistant for the loss, claiming she had started celebrating too soon and that the Knicks sensed it.

"I'm just warning y'all today," Smith added. "I am not in a very good mood at all. At all. Molly [Qerim], I'm warning you, this is not the day to mess with me."

"I am having a very, very bad morning ... It was supposed to be orange and blue skies."

—@stephenasmith reacts to the Knicks' Game 1 loss to the Pacers ️ pic.twitter.com/L8iFnPMZbD
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 22, 2025

The series isn't over after one game, but the Pacers have stolen home-court advantage. All the pressure will be on the Knicks in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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