The Charles Smith Memorial.
Reggie Miller’s eight points in 8.9 seconds.
This ranks among the most painful Knicks playoff collapses—made even worse by the fact they had an extra five minutes and still couldn’t seal the win.
A 17-point fourth-quarter lead—completely squandered.
What began as a promising start in the Eastern Conference Finals quickly turned into a disaster.
WHAT A SHOT BY TYRESE HALIBURTON 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/8wEwdkeRwZ pic.twitter.com/s497GwRWi9
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
After rallying from 20-point deficits in the first two games of their upset over the Celtics in the previous round, the Knicks found themselves on the wrong end of an epic collapse Wednesday night.
“We gotta be ready for Game 2,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That’s all you can focus on. You take the disappointment and turn it into more determination.”
The Knicks blew a 14-point lead with 2:39 remaining, becoming the first team in the play-by-play era (since 1997) to lead a playoff game by 14 points with under 2:45 left—and still lose.
Before this, teams in that position held a perfect 994-0 record. Additionally, the Knicks became the first team since 1998 to surrender a nine-point lead in the final minute of a playoff game, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Out of the first 1,414 teams to hold such leads, all had prevailed—until now.
“Obviously it’s a tough one, we’re all disappointed in it, but the series isn’t over after just one game,” Josh Hart said.
Aaron Nesmith caught fire down the stretch, draining six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, while Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby missed crucial free throws in the final 14.3 seconds, as the Knicks couldn’t close out the win.
It seemed like the Pacers had won it at the buzzer on a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer that bounced off the back rim, soared above the backboard, and then dropped in.
Indiana erupted in celebration—but Haliburton’s toe was on the line, making the shot a two-pointer and sending the game into overtime.
“You gotta be able to count on your defense,” Thibodeau said.
Towns and Jalen Brunson missed potential game-tying 3-pointers in the final seconds of overtime, leaving the Knicks trailing in a postseason series for the first time this spring.
The Knicks opened the extra period with four quick points but were then outscored 13-6 the rest of the way, managing only six points in the final 3:11.
“We didn’t run through that finish line,” Hart said. “Defensively, we let off the gas—lost intensity and weren’t there physically. Offensively, we played slower, a bit stagnant, like we were trying not to lose.”
Brunson had a chance to extend the lead to six in overtime, but his layup was blocked by Myles Turner, leading to an Andrew Nembhard 3-pointer for the Pacers.
In the final five minutes, the Knicks committed four turnovers—two by Brunson, who finished with seven total.
“Turning it over doesn’t help us,” he admitted.
