The comeback kids.
Indiana trailed the Knicks by 14 points with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Per the AP’s Josh Dubrow, teams leading in the playoffs by 14 or more points in the final 2:45 of the fourth quarter were 994-0 (since play-by-play era, 1997).
Make that 994-1.
Once again the Pacers did the unthinkable. And it’s becoming a habit.
The Pacers erased that deficit, thanks in large part to Aaron Nesmith’s red-hot shooting and more Tyrese Haliburton heroics, and forced the game into overtime, eventually winning Game 1 138-135 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks had a 99.7% chance of winning when they led by 14 points with 2:51 left.
Earlier this postseason, the Pacers made history as the first team to win a NBA playoffs game since 1997-98 when trailing by 7+ points in final 40 seconds of fourth quarter/OT, rallying to beat the Bucks in Game 5. Up until then teams were 0-1,609.
Then a week later, the Pacers did it again, against the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, erasing a seven-point deficit — this time with 51 seconds left.
Per The Athletic’s Esfandiar Baraheni, teams are 4-1,640 when trailing by 7+ points in the final minute of fourth quarter and overtime since 1997-98. The Pacers have three of those four wins … in these playoffs alone.
“You just gotta keep playing, the game is long,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 1.
Since 1997-98, teams are 4-1,640 when trailing by 7+ in the final minute of the 4th quarter/OT in the playoffs.
The Pacers account for THREE of those wins.
ALL in these playoffs. pic.twitter.com/sxoB86slFJ
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 22, 2025
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