What made the loss especially painful was the historic nature of the collapse. The Knicks held a commanding 14-point lead with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but allowed the Pacers to storm back and steal the game in dramatic fashion.

The Garden crowd, which had been buzzing with anticipation of a Knicks victory, was left stunned as the Pacers erased the deficit with a furious run. Tyrese Haliburton’s jumper at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime, where Indiana sealed the victory. 

Unprecedented playoff collapse

The Knicks’ late-game unraveling was historic. Before this game, no NBA team had ever lost a playoff game after leading by 14 or more points with fewer than three minutes to play. The Knicks became the first team in NBA postseason history to blow such a lead, breaking a near-perfect record of 994-0. 

Additionally, teams leading by nine or more points in the final minute of a playoff game had never lost—until now.

Defensive breakdowns allowed the Pacers to knock down several clutch three-pointers, while the Knicks’ offense struggled to respond under pressure. Missed free throws and turnovers compounded the problem, leaving the Knicks unable to close out the game despite strong individual performances.

What went wrong for the Knicks?

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 35 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 28 points. However, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the team’s late-game mistakes. The Knicks’ defense faltered at the worst possible time, allowing Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton to heat up and take control of the game’s final moments.

The Pacers’ resilience and clutch shooting exposed the Knicks’ inability to maintain composure in crunch time. New York’s failure to protect the lead will weigh heavily on the team as they prepare for Game 2, where they will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling into a deeper hole in the series.

Can the Knicks bounce back?

With Game 2 scheduled for Friday night, May 23^rd, at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks face a critical test. They must shake off this historic collapse and find a way to close out games against a confident and determined Pacers squad. The team’s mental toughness and ability to execute under pressure will be under the microscope as the series continues.

For Knicks fans, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow, but the playoffs are far from over.