Knicks collapse late and lose Game 1 heartbreaker to Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals

NEW YORK – Game 1 goes to the Pacers.

And what a heartbreaking loss it was for the Knicks.

The Knicks blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead as the Pacers climbed back to force overtime, capped by a wild, miracle shot by Tyrese Haliburton at the buzzer, and then couldn't recover in overtime as they lost 138-135 in the opener of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

"You can never let your guard down against them," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. "No lead is safe."

FANS REACT: What fans are saying after Knicks' stunning loss to Pacers in Game 1

Game 2 is Friday night back at MSG.

But the fact the Knicks now trail in this series is stunning considering how much they controlled the fourth quarter, going on a 14-0 run to take a 16-point lead.

They looked poised for an easy victory, then the Pacers climbed back and quieted what had been a raucous MSG crowd.

"We didn’t close the game out," Josh Hart said. "I feel like our intensity dropped. We started playing slower, playing more into their hands. We let that one slip and now we've just got to make sure tomorrow we go in, we watch tape, see where we can better, and come back Friday. "

Jalen Brunson had 43 points for the Knicks, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 35.

Haliburton led Indiana with 31 points.

Something that hurt the Knicks: They missed 12 free throws in a game where they needed every one of them.

"We've got to be ready for Game 2," Thibodeau said. "You have to take this disappointment and turn it into more motivation."

Here's how the game unfolded:

Wild fourth quarter ends with even wilder shot by Tyrese Haliburton

The Knicks and Pacers are headed to overtime tied at 125-125 in Game 1 thanks to a wild, miracle buzzer-beating shot by the Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton.

The Knicks led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, during which they had a 14-0 run, but the Pacers cut it to two with 22.1 seconds left on a three-pointer by Aaron Nesmith.

Indiana fouled Karl-Anthony Towns with 14.3 seconds left and he hit one of two to make it a three-point game, prompting the Pacers to call timeout with 13.9 seconds left.

OG Anunoby fouled Nesmith out of the timeout. Nesmith hit both to make it a one-point game.

Then Siakam fouled Anunoby and he hit the second of two.

Then Haliburton hit a miraculous shot at the buzzer -- the ball hit the rim, bounced up and then came back down through the net.

After a review, it was determined that his foot was on the three-point line, tying the game at 125 and forcing overtime.

Brunson played the final five minutes of regulation and in overtime with five fouls – he was on the bench for the Knicks’ game-changing fourth-quarter run.

Indiana started off hot from the field, hitting its first nine shots. But the Pacers ultimately cooled off – somewhat at least – and the Knicks took advantage.

4Q, 5:00: Jalen Brunson checks back into the game

After sitting since the 10:05 mark, Brunson is back in the game with five fouls.

Knicks are up 113-98.

4Q, 7:22: Knicks have taken control, lead 108-92

This has been an absolutely huge fourth quarter for the Knicks, who have gone on a 14-0 run to take a 16-point lead.

OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns have done most of the work during this run (Anunoby has seven points, Towns has five).

And this has all happened with Brunson on the bench with foul trouble.

4Q, 9:20: Knicks back up by seven thanks to OG Anunoby

Nice little stretch here by OG Anunoby, who hit a three and then hit a tough layup to put the Knicks up 99-92 with 9:20 to go in the fourth quarter.

4Q, 10:05: Jalen Brunson picks up his fifth foul

Brunson's going to have to be careful the rest of the game. He just fouled TJ McConnell, his fifth foul of the game with 10 minutes to go.

Now Brunson's headed to the bench.

Knicks still lead 94-92.

End of the third quarter: Knicks 90, Pacers 87

Pacers really outplayed the Knicks in the period, but the Knicks still emerge with a slim lead.

Jalen Brunson's up to 27 points for the Knicks, Haliburton has 23 for Indiana.

Both teams are still shooting over 50 percent (Knicks 51.6 percent, Pacers 50.0 percent).

Halftime: Knicks 69, Pacers 62

Heck of a first half.

Up and down, fast-paced. The Knicks played well overall, shooting 51.0 percent from the field, 8-of-19 from three.

Jalen Brunson has 18 points so far while Towns has 15 and Bridges has 12.

Josh Hart has eight points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Overall, a fun first half. If that's a sign of how this whole series will go, we're in for a good one.

Pacers started off hot but cooled off somewhat -- they shot 51.1 percent. Tyrese Haliburton has 14 points, three rebounds and six assists.

5:51, 2Q: Knicks up 54-46, largest lead of the game

Two threes from Cam Payne and another from Karl-Anthony Towns has helped the Knicks take an eight-point lead, their largest of the game.

Towns is up to 13 points while Mikal Bridges has 12.

And this run by the Knicks has come with Jalen Brunson on the bench.

End of the first quarter: Knicks 36, Pacers 34

Pacers cooled off, but barely. Indiana shot 14-of-20 from the field, with Myles Turner scoring 11 of the Pacers' points.

Knicks are 15-of-23. They took their first lead on a Jalen Brunson three throw with 49 seconds left in the quarter.

Mitchell Robinson, by the way, has played five minutes but has two points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and one block.

It's been a fast-paced game, just the type of style the Pacers like and are accustomed to. They've already gone nine deep.

Going to be interesting to see how the Knicks keep up.

1Q, 2:57: Pacers still hot, still lead

Indiana's hit 12 of its first 15 shots now and leads 29-22.

Knicks are 10-of-17 so far.

1Q, 6:59: The shots are falling early as Pacers lead

Quite the start here at MSG.

The Pacers have all eight of their shot attempts so far and lead 18-14.

But the Knicks are nearly just as good: They're 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point range with both threes coming from Karl-Anthony Towns.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Knicks collapse late and lose Game 1 heartbreaker to Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals