The New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers tonight at Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana leads the series 1–0 after a stunning 138–135 overtime win in Game 1 — a comeback that stunned the Garden crowd and shifted momentum in the Pacers’ favor.
The Knicks collapsed after leading by 17 in the fourth quarter and holding a nine-point advantage with under a minute to go. Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beating jumper forced overtime, and the Pacers closed it out from there with poise and clutch shot-making.
Jalen Brunson finished with 45 points on 15-of-25 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 35 points and 12 rebounds. But missed free throws and defensive breakdowns in the final moments cost the Knicks a game they had in hand.
Aaron Nesmith was the x-factor for Indiana, knocking down six threes in the fourth quarter alone and tying an NBA playoff record in the process.
Haliburton controlled the game down the stretch, finishing with 31 points and 11 assists.
If the Knicks hope to even the series, they’ll need to clean up their late-game execution and maintain defensive intensity across all four quarters. That includes limiting second-chance opportunities and keeping the Pacers off the three-point line — something they failed to do in Game 1.
For Indiana, sustaining pace and continuing to get scoring contributions from the entire rotation — particularly from role players like Nesmith — will be key.
The Pacers’ confidence is surging, and if New York doesn’t tighten up defensively, Indiana could head home up 2–0.
Game Prediction: Knicks bounce back and win Game 2 by single digits in another high-scoring contest.
Series Prediction: Knicks in six.
How to Watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Tonight’s Pacers-Knicks game tips off just after 8:00 PM Eastern.
The game airs live on TNT and streams on the TNT app and website, as well as Max, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, and YouTube TV.
Pacers vs. Knicks
Date and Time: Friday, May 23, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: TNT
Streaming: TNT app and website, Max, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, YouTube TV
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