Indiana Pacers fans were elated after their team’s historic win in Game 1 against the New York Knicks. They had survived the slimmest of odds to steal a game on the road. But watching that victory was even sweeter for another fanbase – that of the Boston Celtics. Following their bitter elimination at the hands of the Knicks, they have been waiting for revenge. But Dave Portnoy’s Barstool Sports isn’t wasting any time.

Portnoy is a die-hard Celtics fan, although Barstool has its HQ in New York. And following their defeat to the Knicks, he actually praised the Knicks for being the better team. But within, it was all about getting any form of revenge possible. Game 1 served up as the perfect dish for the same.

Barstool Sports’ Twitter page went on a rampage. Their content was all about the Knicks’ meltdown. One graphic showcased the Knicks having a nine-point lead with under a minute remaining. “Do NOT show this image to your local Knicks fan,” it read.

But the trolling didn’t stop there.

Another post showcased the jubilation of a gathered Knicks crowd right before their team would suffer a colossal loss. The abuse continued in another video showing an entire theatre full of Knicks fans watching the final possession of regulation.

In the split second that Haliburton’s shot bounced before going in, the fans synchronised into a loud cheer. “Knicks fan got caught pulling the trigger too quickly on a s**t talk video,” they wrote in the video as the entire crowd went mute as Haliburton brought back Reggie Miller’s iconic choke.

And obviously, the trolling wouldn’t be complete without Dave Portnoy playing his role in it. The entrepreneur’s short video of teasing the Knicks for choking the game was among the final shots Barstool Sports took at their fanbase.

It was an all-time fumble for the New York Knicks. But as much as the Pacers celebrate this win, the series is far from sealed. It’s only been one game. And every one of the Knicks players is determined to turn their woeful Game 1 performance around.

Knicks fans went through hell

While Barstool Sports did turn their onslaught on the Knicks fans, it really wasn’t needed. Thousands of their fans were beside themselves watching what transpired in Game 1. Faze Clan’s popular streamer Jason Nguyen could be seen breaking his monitor when he thought Haliburton hit the game winner on the Knicks.

But there was far more pain and sorrow for the Knicks. Several streamers felt the agony of the loss. Viewers in New York bars went silent as the Pacers pulled off one of the great heists in modern NBA playoffs.

At the same time, the other side of the picture was far greener.

Pacers fans couldn’t believe their eyes as their team rallied from a near-impossible deficit. Their bar watch party erupted in a chaotic cheer when Tyrese Haliburton hit the insane game-tying two-pointer. Haliburton’s father, who is currently banned, also broke out Reggie Miller’s iconic choke to celebrate what they felt was a win.

But despite their incorrect celebrations, the night belonged to them. It was a magical experience for the Pacers fandom. The Knicks fans, on the other hand, would have hoped the floor below them would collapse so they could hide.

The historic rivalry began in the most fitting and captivating way possible. And now, you can expect the tension between the two fan bases to keep growing. The series is far from over. But no matter what transpires, this moment will live on in Pacers and NBA history.