Imagine witnessing a defeat so extraordinary that it’s never been seen before—so stunning that it silences even the city that never sleeps. New York Knicks fans have endured a lot, but Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden was something entirely new. The usually loud and passionate crowd walked out in stunned silence, the air heavy with disbelief. Fans shuffled out quietly, eyes wide or red from tears, speechless over what they had just witnessed. Aaron Nesmith
“Why’s it so quiet?” shouted Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton as he made his victorious exit. The reason was simple but shocking
In the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks appeared to have the game locked up. With just under 3 minutes left, they held a 14-point lead. Many fans were already heading for the exits after Jalen Brunson nailed a three-pointer, seemingly sealing the game.
But then the impossible happened.
Aaron Nesmith’s Heroics
The Pacers, led by Aaron Nesmith, mounted an extraordinary comeback. Nesmith did something no player had ever done before in a playoff game—he sank six three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone, including three clutch shots in the final minute. The deficit melted away as the Knicks suddenly found themselves scrambling on defense.
With Indiana trailing by just two points and the clock winding down, Haliburton took control. Driving into the paint, he seemed content to push the game into overtime—until, in a split-second decision, he pulled up for a deep shot. The ball kissed the back rim and then dropped in, almost like a blessing from the basketball gods. It was a two-pointer, not a three, sending the game to overtime.
The loss wasn’t just painful; it was historic. According to Elias Sports, no team trailing by nine or more points in the final minute of regulation or overtime had ever won a playoff game since 1998. The Knicks became the first to break that record, changing it from 0-1414 to 1-1414. Additionally, no team had ever lost a playoff game after leading by 14 or more with under three minutes left. Before Wednesday, the record was a perfect 977-0. Now, it’s 977-1.
From there, the Pacers, who have been relentless all postseason, outlasted New York 138-135.
New York center Karl-Anthony Towns summed it up: “We played 46 good minutes. Those last two minutes is where we lost the game. That’s on all of us.”
Throughout the postseason, the Knicks had been known for their late-game heroics—often snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, just as they did against the Pistons and the defending champions, the Celtics. But this time, it was their own medicine.
While they played solid defense for most of the game, the Knicks faltered in crunch time. They missed defensive assignments, failed to control the glass, and didn’t execute key fouls. Turnovers plagued their overtime effort, including three crucial giveaways in the final minutes. Offensively, they became stagnant, rushed shots, and missed critical free throws.
This improbable collapse, highlighted by Aaron Nesmith’s sensational shooting, will be remembered as one of the most shocking moments in NBA playoff history—especially for the fans who expected the Knicks to close it out comfortably.
