Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals more than delivered as the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers went to overtime. The Pacers overcame a big deficit in the final couple of minutes, and Tyrese Haliburton hit an insane shot at the buzzer to send the game into OT. What made it crazier is that everyone in the arena thought that the shot was a three to win the game. The game went to OT, and the Knicks still had life. However, Indiana won the game 138-135.

The Pacers were trailing by 14 points with under three minutes to go, and then they caught fire. This game was close throughout, but the Knicks started to pull away in the fourth quarter. They led by as many as 17 points, and when Jalen Brunson made it 119-105 with a huge three with under three minutes to go, it looked like New York was going to easily take a 1-0 lead in the series.

After that three, the Pacers took over, and it didn't come from just one player. Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton both made some huge shots down the stretch, and thanks to some missed free throws by the Knicks, Indiana got the ball back down by two in the final seconds.

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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots a game-tying two point shot to send the game to overtime in the fourth quarter against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
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New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates a three point shot against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
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Halbiburton brought the ball up the floor, and after losing a defender, he sprinted back to the three-point line to try to win the game for the Pacers. He got the shot off in time as he faded away from the basket, and everyone in the arena thought it was a three. The shot clanked off the rim and shot straight up in the air, and then it fell through the hoop. The Pacers thought that they had won, but it was a two, and the game went to overtime.

The overtime period was just as intense as the final couple of minutes. Both teams traded blows, but a late turnover by the Knicks cost them. They did still end up getting the ball back down three with a chance to tie, but Jalen Brunson, the Clutch Player of the Year, airballed a three that would've made it 138-138. New York got the rebound and Karl-Anthony Towns had a clean look from deep, but he missed as well. The Pacers survived.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals did not disappoint, and Tyrese Haliburton continues to put on an incredible show in the playoffs. The Pacers now lead the series 1-0, and they are three wins away from the NBA Finals.