The Indiana Pacers pulled off an unforgettable comeback in Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025. Trailing by 14 points with under three minutes left in regulation, the Pacers mounted a furious rally, outscoring the Knicks 20-6 in the final 2:39 to force overtime and secure the victory.
Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 31 points, delivering what many are calling his best postseason performance yet. The Pacers’ resilience was on full display, as they refused to be counted out, a sentiment echoed in their celebratory post on X: “CAN’T COUNT US OUT #PacersWin.”
This win marks a historic moment in NBA playoff history. The Knicks’ 135 points set a new record for the most points scored in a losing effort in a conference finals game, surpassing the 1972 record of 134 by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers’ comeback is also one of only five instances since 1997-98 where a team overcame a 7+ point deficit in the final minute of a playoff game, with Indiana accounting for three of those in the 2025 playoffs alone.
The Pacers look to carry this momentum into Game 2 as they aim to advance closer to the NBA Finals.
