Indiana Pacers pulled off a unprecedented fourth-quarter comeback to beat the New York Knicks 138-135 in time beyond regulation in Recreation 1 of the NBA Jap Convention finals.
The Knicks had been accountable for the competition at Madison Sq. Backyard and led by 14 factors with 2:51 left within the recreation earlier than the Pacers abruptly got here alive.
In gorgeous vogue, Indiana sank six straight three-pointers, 5 of them from Aaron Nesmith.
The Pacers have been an inch away from successful the sport in regulation when, with the ultimate play of the fourth quarter, Tyrese Haliburton backed out of the three-point arc, and his shot whereas backpedalling hit the rim and bounced in.
The Pacers, who had been 17 factors down at one stage within the fourth, celebrated what they thought was a well-known victory.
However the video replay confirmed that Haliburton’s foot was on the three-point line, and the shot was downgraded to a two-point shot, which means the sport went to time beyond regulation.
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The shocked Knicks caught with the duty and led by some extent with 35.2 seconds of time beyond regulation remaining when Jalen Brunson made a driving, floating bounce shot. However a lay-up from Andrew Nembhard after which a six-foot dunk from Obi Toppin secured an exciting win for the Pacers.
Haliburton top-scored for the Pacers with 31 factors and 11 assists whereas Nesmith ended with 30 factors on 8-from-9 three-point capturing.
Brunson top-scored for New York with 43 factors whereas Karl-Anthony Cities added 35 factors. The win was the Pacer’s fourth comeback from 15 factors or extra down throughout the post-season.
Recreation Two of the collection takes place in New York on Friday.