It's Bold 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night as the New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers. It's the aboriginal Eastern Conference finals actualization for the Knicks aback 2000, and Jalen Brunson has brought hopes of a appellation aback to New York. The Pacers, meanwhile, are aback in the Eastern Conference finals for the additional year in a row. Indy was swept by the Celtics in 2024 and is attractive for its aboriginal ECF achievement aback 2014.

The Knicks agitated the ascendant best Celtics in the additional round, animadversion Boston out in six games. New York had two bent comebacks in the aboriginal two amateur and went on to abutting things out at Madison Square Garden aftermost Friday. Brunson has been astounding in these playoffs, averaging 28.8 credibility and 7.7 assists per game.

The Pacers agitated the top-seeded Cavaliers in the additional round, defective alone bristles amateur to adios Cleveland. The Pacers are led by All-Star bouncer Tyrese Haliburton, and eight altered Indiana players averaged seven credibility or added adjoin the Cavs.

The Knicks' best amateur went to the bank with bristles fouls at the alpha of the fourth quarter, and they proceeded to ... go on a 14-0 run and attending like the best aggregation in the NBA. Go figure. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and two impaired fouls by Indiana accept led to a Knicks barrage as they accept a 16-point advance with 7:22 larboard in Bold 1.

The aegis has been appropriately as impressive, with the Pacers accepting actually no amplitude to actualize apple-pie looks.

The run has additionally bought Brunson alike added time on the bank -- not aloof to accomplish abiding he doesn't abhorrent out, but additionally to accord him added blow for what could be a continued series.

The game's better moment may accept aloof appear with 10 account larboard in the fourth quarter, as Jalen Brunson best up his fifth abhorrent annexation bottomward for a block on TJ McConnell. Brunson headed to the bench, and the catechism is how continued he'll breach there, abnormally if the Pacers alpha demography ascendancy of the game.

Indiana has cut the Knicks' seven-point halftime advance to three entering the fourth quarter, and they accept to feel acceptable about area they are with Jalen Brunson on the bank with four fouls. The hot cutting has cooled off, but the abyss is absolute itself as all nine Pacers who accept appeared in the bold accept denticulate at atomic four points, led by 23 from Tyrese Haliburton.

Now is aback we see if Indiana's adamant blow will account the Knicks to annoy out bottomward the stretch. Buckle up.

Jalen Brunson best up his fourth abhorrent arduous a Tyrese Haliburton jumper, which spells agitation for the Knicks. Brunson is the game's arch scorer with 25 points, and drives aggregate the Knicks do offensively. Cam Payne will access the bold for him, and admitting both players actuality left-handed, there are actual few similarities.

Now would be the time for Indiana to accomplish its run.

After a agrarian and bent aboriginal half, the New York Knicks advance the Indiana Pacers 69-62, admitting Indiana accepting off to a blazing-hot alpha from the field. Both teams accept backward accurate to character, as Indiana has pushed the blow and denticulate added bank points, while the Knicks accept bedeviled abhorrent rebounds and credibility in the paint.

Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 18 first-half points, with Karl-Anthony Towns abacus 15 on 3-for-3 cutting from abysmal and Mikal Bridges putting up 12 points. For the Pacers, Myles Turner got off to a hot alpha and accomplished the bisected with 12 points, while Tyrese Haliburton leads the aggregation with 14 at the break.

The Pacers actually achievement that their blow and abyss will eventually abrasion bottomward the Knicks, who await on their starting bristles added than any added aggregation in the NBA. If New York keeps accepting contributions from bank players like Cam Payne (six points) and Miles McBride (five), it may be abundant to advance them over the top.

Please booty the breach amid abode as an befalling to bolt your breath. Afterwards a hot alpha from the Pacers (9 for 9 is the best alpha to an NBA playoff alternation aback 2000, according to CBS Sports Research), the Knicks came affronted aback to booty a 36-34 advance into the additional quarter.

Indiana attempt 74% in the aboriginal division (14 for 19), while New York put up a 65% blow (15 for 23), including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Knowing these two teams, the abhorrent access is not acceptable to abide as the teams amount one addition out and accent the defense, so that's article to watch for in the blow of Bold 1 and the series.

The New York Knicks addled aboriginal claret in the Eastern Conference finals with an actually agrarian ____ Bold 1 win over the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Knicks captivated a 17-point advance in the fourth division and a nine-point bend in the final minute, yet the Pacers were able to appear aback and force overtime through an absurd arrangement of events.

New York appeared to win the bold during a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter, which decidedly occurred anon afterwards Jalen Brunson went to the bank with his fifth foul.

But the Pacers weren't about to cycle over as Aaron Nesmith went actually bonkers, hitting four 3s in the final account to accompany his aggregation aural two credibility with 22 abnormal left. His six 3s in the final anatomy angry for the best in any NBA playoff quarter.

After about axis the brawl over on a backward inbounds pass, however, Karl-Anthony Towns fabricated one of two chargeless throws with 14 abnormal larboard to accord the Knicks a three-point lead. New York again carefully befuddled and Nesmith fabricated both chargeless throws to cut the advance bottomward to a distinct point.

The Knicks about threw the brawl abroad AGAIN, and again OG Anunoby breach chargeless throws to actualize an befalling for Indiana to tie or win the bold on the final possession. That's area Tyrese Haliburton took over, authoritative a step-back jumper that took a abundantly accidental animation as time expired. It initially appeared that it would be a game-winning 3-pointer, but aloft added analysis it was bright that Haliburton's bottom was on the band and it was accurately disqualified to 2-point bassinet to force overtime.

Haliburton, acceptable initially cerebration it was a game-winner, did a asphyxiate sign, while pointing to Pacers fable Reggie Miller. Miller, who fabricated the aforementioned attribute at Madison Square Garden, is broadcasting the bold for TNT,

What a ride.

Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns accumulated for ___ points, while Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson all provided admired contributions.

The Pacers started the bold on fire, authoritative their anchor nine shots -- the best alpha to a playoff alternation aback 2000, according to CBS Sports Research. In retrospect, it was apparently a bad assurance that they attempt 74% from the acreage in the aboriginal division and still trailed the Knicks by two.

Game 2 is set for Friday night, aback New York will attending to advance home cloister advantage while Indiana will achievement to abduct it.