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The Indiana Pacers pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA playoff history, erasing a 14-point deficit in under three minutes to shock the New York Knicks 135-132 in overtime during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. But not everyone was celebrating.

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Draymond Green and Kenny Smith weren’t convinced by the Pacers’ miracle win. “I still don’t believe what we just saw,” Ernie Johnson said in disbelief on TNT’s post-game show. “That’s the modern-day NBA, though. We had a game earlier this year, right after the trade. And Jimmy didn’t play. We were playing at Utah. They scored 20 points in two minutes. That’s one of the worst teams in the NBA!” Draymond Green noted, promptly drawing comparison to the Knicks’ mistakes more than praising Indiana. “There were errors tonight… the Knicks were more fortunate than they should’ve been,” Smith said, pointing out multiple missed chances by New York to seal the game.

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The Knicks led 119-105 with 2:51 left, a lead playoff teams had never blown over the last 970 such instances. But Aaron Nesmith caught fire, draining five threes and finishing with 30 points. Tyrese Haliburton hit the clutch shot to send the game to OT and finished with 31 points and 11 assists.

New York had two chances to tie late, but both Brunson and Towns missed. Game 2 is set for Saturday as Indiana eyes a shocking 2-0 lead.

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Ved Vaze

1,068 Articles

Ved Vaze is the NBA Editor at EssentiallySports, where he leads coverage of the league with a blend of fan passion and insider insight. A devoted Lakers follower, he reported on the breakup of the Orlando Bubble-winning team and the pivotal front-office moves that followed. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, Ved honed his skills under industry mentors, sharpening his ability to deliver timely analysis on trades, roster shifts, and season developments. He recently attended a session with broadcaster Matt Prieur, reinforcing the values of honesty, integrity, and fact-driven storytelling. A tech graduate and former player, Ved combines on-court experience with data expertise to break down advanced stats and uncover the stories behind the numbers.

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Geisha Pulimoottil Don

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