Madison Square Garden was buzzing with excitement as the New York Knicks held a comfortable 14-point lead with less than three minutes left in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Fans believed the win was all but sealed—until Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith sparked one of the most dramatic comebacks of this postseason.

The Pacers, down but not out, clawed their way back thanks to Nesmith’s incredible shooting spree. The 25-year-old former Celtics first-round pick nailed five three-pointers in the final three minutes of regulation, keeping Indiana’s hopes alive and the Knicks on edge.

With the clock winding down and the Pacers trailing by two points, Haliburton rose to the occasion. He launched a buzzer-beater jumper that bounced high and, against all odds, fell through the net. The Garden erupted—only for officials to rule it a two-pointer after review, sending the game into overtime instead of ending it.

Not missing a beat, the Pacers dominated the extra period and secured a thrilling 138-135 victory. Haliburton finished with a standout performance: 31 points and 11 assists, while Nesmith poured in 30 points, hitting eight of nine from beyond the arc.

This comeback marked the third time the Pacers have pulled off an improbable late-game rally this postseason. Indiana’s resilience is historic—since the 1996-97 season, only four teams in over 1,700 playoff games have overcome a seven-plus point deficit in the final 50 seconds or overtime. Remarkably, Indiana achieved this feat three times in these playoffs alone.

The Pacers had earlier erased similar deficits against the Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, making their Game 1 victory even more impressive. In fact, Indiana is the first team in the last 27 postseasons to win a game when down by 14 points with less than three minutes left in regulation, according to team stats.

Despite the loss, Knicks star Jalen Brunson put respect on Indiana’s performance. “Give them a lot of credit—they closed the game out like they’ve been doing all playoffs. It wasn’t our best moment,” Brunson admitted after leading all scorers with 43 points.

Haliburton’s Famous Gesture Sparks Talk

After the game, Haliburton revealed he grew up watching the 2010 documentary Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks, which features Miller’s iconic “choke” gesture during a famous Indiana comeback in the ’90s. Inspired, Haliburton mimicked the gesture after his buzzer shot, playfully taunting the stunned crowd.

However, once he learned the shot was only worth two points, Haliburton expressed a hint of regret. “It felt right at the time,” he said. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it. If I do it again, people might say I’m aura-farming, so I probably won’t use it again.”

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle shrugged off the moment. “Players can do what they want. It’s emotional and not a big deal. The place was loud, and the environment here is always intense,” Carlisle said. “This is playoff basketball.”

A Rivalry with History and Future

The Knicks and Pacers share a long playoff history dating back to the ’90s, with battles featuring legends like Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, and Dale Davis. Last year, Indiana eliminated New York in a dramatic Game 7 on the Knicks’ home court.

Yet Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns dismissed the idea of repeating history. “It’s our job to make history, not repeat it,” Towns said after his 35-point, 12-rebound performance. “I only think about what we can do now to make our own history.”

Game 2 of the series is set for Friday night in New York, promising more high-stakes drama in this riveting Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

Source: CNN – Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana Pacers stun New York Knicks in overtime to take Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals

The post Haliburton and Nesmith Lead Epic Pacers Comeback at MSG appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

CLEVELAND – Tyrese Haliburton knows he’s the one his team relies on in the clutch. And once again, he didn’t disappoint.

With just 1.1 seconds remaining, Haliburton sank a dramatic 3-pointer to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 120-119 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. The win gave the Pacers a surprising 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

The Pacers’ remarkable comeback came in the final 47.9 seconds, as they scored the last eight points of the game. Haliburton was a key figure, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter alone.

After a crucial steal by Andrew Nembhard from Cleveland’s Max Strus with 27.5 seconds left, Indiana initially sought a potential game-tying three. Haliburton, however, drove inside and got fouled. He made his first free throw but missed the second. Undeterred, he grabbed his own rebound, stepped out to the 3-point line, and drained the game-winner from the top of the key.

“I was (ticked) I missed the layup, but I just backed it out, saw Ty Jerome, and knocked it down,” Haliburton said. “It’s the NBA — crazier things happen. We don’t give up, and we’re battle-tested. We just find a way.”

The Pacers guard has been clutch throughout the playoffs. He hit a key layup in overtime to eliminate the Milwaukee Bucks just a few days earlier, and now, he’s delivered again in the postseason, adding another iconic shot to his growing list.

Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle praised Haliburton’s ability to deliver under pressure, saying, “Obviously, we got lucky. Ty hit another amazing shot to win the game. You don’t see this very often, let alone twice in one week. Tyrese, he came through again. We’re very fortunate.”

Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith each scored 23 points for the Pacers, while Haliburton’s heroics helped Indiana achieve something rare in franchise history. This marks the first time since 1994 that the Pacers have won the first two games of a playoff series on the road.

In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell put on an impressive performance, scoring 48 points for the Cavs despite missing three key players due to injury. The Cavs were without NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, key reserve De’Andre Hunter, and Darius Garland, who’s been sidelined by a toe injury.

“We outplayed them for most of the game, but toward the end, we had some mental lapses. They capitalized on every mistake we made,” said Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

The Cavaliers had a strong third quarter, building a commanding 98-81 lead late in the period. But the Pacers surged back with a 17-6 run, narrowing the gap. Cleveland looked poised to secure a win when Max Strus hit a 3-pointer with just over a minute left, putting the Cavs ahead 117-110.

However, the Cavs couldn’t hold on, committing two key turnovers, while the Pacers grabbed crucial offensive rebounds that led to points. This marked the first time the Cavaliers have lost their first two playoff games at home since 1996.

Carlisle summed up the game with a mixture of disbelief and pride: “Cleveland hit us with a hellacious punch early in the game. In the fourth, we just hung on. We maintained enough energy to get it done. Give the guys credit, they somehow found a way.”

The series now heads to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday, with the Pacers holding a rare 2-0 advantage on the road in the postseason.

Source: AP News – Haliburton’s 3 with 1.1 seconds left gives Pacers 120-119 stunning win over Cavs and 2-0 series lead

The post Haliburton’s Last-Second Shot Lifts Pacers to 120-119 Victory Over Cavs appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.