Indiana’s hopes of a championship came crashing down this week. After forcing Game 7 in dramatic fashion, the Pacers looked determined to make it their year. In the beginning, they seemed on track to make history. However, in the second half, the team lost all momentum and suffered a 91-103 defeat.
Despite that, the playoff run from the Indiana Pacers was nothing short of legendary. The last-second game winners, the celebrations, the comebacks, Tyrese Haliburton and Co. were the most exciting side to watch. Now that the dream is over, let’s revisit the iconic Game 1 comeback against the Knicks.
The Indiana Pacers were the Undisputed Comeback Kings
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Pacers were expected to be thrilling. The teams finished third and fourth in the regular season, respectively. They were on the brink of getting their ticket to the NBA Finals; all it was going to take was four wins. Understandably, both teams came all guns blazing.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Knicks were in control, leading by 17 at one point. They kept the game in their control. With 2:45 left on the clock, the Knicks had a 14-point lead. But that marked the end of their dominance.
The game came down to the final seconds. With 7.3 seconds left on the clock, Haliburton had the ball. Standing near the three-point line, Haliburton shot what looked like a game-winning bucket. But upon review, the Pacers were given two points. While the final shot of regulation time didn’t decide the game, it gave enough space to the Pacers to walk away with a win.
They outscored the home team 13-10 in overtime, registering a 138-35 win. While nothing about the win was ordinary, the Pacers also set several records. Since 1996-97, only four teams have managed to win a game trailing 7+ points in the final 50 seconds of the fourth quarter. The overall stat is 4-1702. And here’s the biggest jaw-dropping stat: the Pacers have three of those four games won, all in one season.
Despite valiant efforts from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, putting up 43 and 35 points respectively, the Knicks fell short. Haliburton, with his 31 points, four rebounds, and 11 assists, was the standout performer for his team. The Pacers’ comeback will be remembered for a very long time.
READ: Bennedict Mathurin’s Game 7 strategy against Thunder failed; Pacers lost
Prateek is a seasoned content writer with over 2500 published articles and two+ years of experience. His passion for UFC was ignited during Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, and closely following McGregor’s journey inspired him to bring a sharp, fan-driven perspective to his UFC coverage, blending detailed analysis with compelling storytelling.
