Knicks Suffer Historic Fourth-Quarter Collapse Against Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks experienced one of the most shocking collapses in NBA playoff history during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, blowing a 14 to 17-point lead in the final minutes before losing in overtime. Knicks fans, many chanting 'Knicks in four' and confident of a sweep, were stunned as Pacers' Aaron Nesmith hit multiple critical three-pointers and Tyrese Haliburton made a buzzer-beating shot that tied the game, followed by mimicking Reggie Miller's iconic choke gesture from 1999. Statistically, the Knicks became the first team in the play-by-play era to lose a playoff game after leading by 14 or more points with under three minutes left, marking it as the biggest choke job in NBA playoff history. The loss silenced Madison Square Garden and the city, with fans leaving in disbelief and silence. Despite this collapse, there remains hope as the Knicks went on to win the 1999 series after a similar situation, but this recent failure will likely haunt fans. The atmosphere of anticipation and energy before the game highlighted how unexpected and painful the defeat was for the team and its supporters.