Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks

On Saturday, Madison Square Garden will host the second leg of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.

The host team will be aiming to restore balance, while the visitors, fresh off an exciting victory in Thursday's series opener, will be looking to gain even more control of the game with a victory tonight.

Two weeks after the New York Knicks pulled off the second of two consecutive 20-point comebacks in their second-round series against the Boston Celtics, they were the beneficiaries of a spectacular comeback in a quintessential instance of "what goes around comes around."

With a 17-point lead and just over six minutes remaining, Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks seemed poised to secure Game 1 at home, only to shockingly lose their edge, forcing the game into overtime. Despite a strong position in the extra period, New York faltered again, resulting in a historic 138-135 collapse that left Madison Square Garden in stunned silence.

Jalen Brunson (43 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (35 points) delivered standout performances, marking the first time two Knicks teammates scored 35+ points in a playoff game, combining for 78 points on 62% shooting. However, their efforts weren’t enough to prevent the defeat.

After winning the opening games in their previous two playoff series, the Knicks now face an uphill battle to reach their first NBA Finals since 1994, when they also faced the Pacers in one of many 1990s postseason clashes between the teams.

The Indiana Pacers have pulled off several stunning victories in this playoff run, but their Game 1 triumph at one of basketball’s most iconic venues stands out. Overcoming a 14-point deficit in the final 110 seconds of regulation—a playoff first—Rick Carlisle’s squad showcased relentless determination.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 31 points, including a crucial game-tying shot at the end of regulation, celebrating with Reggie Miller’s iconic “choke” gesture as the Pacers legend watched from the stands. Aaron Nesmith also shone, posting a playoff-career-high 30 points, with his six three-pointers in the fourth quarter making him the first player to achieve that feat in postseason history.

Now three wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since their Eastern Conference finals loss to the Boston Celtics last season, the Pacers carry significant momentum forward.