Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Indiana Pacers Defy Logic, History and Knicks in 0–1,414 Comeback Shock, Snap Playoff Curse

Indiana Pacers mount one of NBA’s rarest comebacks at Madison Square Garden

Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA Playoff history on Wednesday night. The Knicks vs. Pacers match had everything in it, from twisting tales to thrilling turns. It was a day to remember for basketball enthusiasts.

The nature of the Indiana Pacers performance is such that it has completely defied the odds. No team in the NBA Playoffs while trailing by 9 or more points in the last minute of regular time or even Over Time managed to overturn the deficit.

Moreover, history was not on their side. Statistically, no team trailing by 9+ points in the final minute had ever come back to win. NBA teams were 0-1,414 in such scenarios. The Indiana Pacers, however, defied these very odds to mount a classic NBA story. Despite trailing for most of the fourth quarter, the visitors changed their gears in the last few minutes.

The Knicks are the first team in NBA playoff history to lose up 14 with 2:45 remaining 😭 pic.twitter.com/A5dCw0hDPA
— br_betting (@br_betting) May 22, 2025

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This has been a quality of the Indiana Pacers throughout this season’s playoffs, where they have managed to mount significant fourth quarter comebacks. However, Wednesday’s turnaround was something else worthy of remembrance. The Knicks took things too lightly and became complacent, wasting the efforts of Jalen Brunson.

Haliburton’s Two-Pointer Sets Up NBA Playoffs History

The Indiana Pacers weren’t lagging behind the Knicks by a huge margin. The deficit was not a blowout one, which kept them in the game. Tyrese Haliburton’s efforts are what pushed the Pacers to create history at Madison Square Garden. He emerged as the top scorer for the visitors in game one.

The Pacers with dying seconds had to hit at least two to level the game, while a three would have given them a victory. Tyrese Haliburton had the possession. With no defender in sight, the 25-year-old stepped back and released what looked like a game-winning three-pointer.

The shot went in the hoop, thus suggesting once again that the overrated tag on him was indeed overrated. Tyrese Haliburton did the choke celebration and his teammates celebrated with him on the court. However, the premature celebrations were cut short as officials noticed Haliburton’s foot while making the shot was touching the line.

The two pointer leveled the game for the Indiana Pacers. The New York Knicks and their fans at Madison Square Garden by that time lost all hope. Their confidence was down as Pacers ravaged through in the Overtime. The Pacers sealed Game 1 with a 138-135 overtime victory.