May 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) defends Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) on a follow through for a game-winning three-point basket in the fourth quarter during game two of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Pacers 138, Knicks 135. The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 138-135 in overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton forced overt

It's as close to a must-win game as you can get without it being a must-win game. The New York Knicks go into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals having dropped Game 1 to the Indiana Pacers in overtime.

New York again couldn't defend home-court advantage in Game 2 Friday, losing 114-109 to the Pacers with the Eastern Conference Finals headed to Indiana.

Tony Bradley had a point and two key rebounds in the Pacers' 114-109 win over the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Aaron Nesmith scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Pacers 114-109 win over the Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals

In one of the wildest NBA playoff games ever at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers, trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter, rallied past the Knicks in a 138-135 overtime thriller in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

Still, because Haliburton's foot was on the line, the Knicks could avoid making history if they could recover in overtime. Instead, it was much of the same as the Pacers kept rolling, with Andrew Nembhard doing most of the damage with seven points in the extra period.

On Wednesday, it was the Knicks yielding a late double-digit lead to a furious Pacers surge, then falling 138-135 in overtime to complete one of the most stunning games of an NBA playoffs that had already set a high mark for drama.