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The New York Knicks have fallen into a place that no team in the NBA history has overcome.
After a historical collapse in game 1 of the ESE conference finals to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let game 2 slide down their fingers, in a defeat of 114-109.
No NBA team has lost the first two games at home and returned to win a series at the conference finals.
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The Indiana Pacers guard, Tyrese Haliburton (0), shoots at the New York Knicks Guard, Jalen Brunson (11) in the last quarter during the game two of the Eastern Conference finals for the NBA playoffs of 2025 in the Madison Square Garden. (Images of Wendell Cruz-Imagn)
Pascal Siakam scored 39 points in the Playoffs race, and the Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday night for a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals.
“We have a long way to go and it will only be more difficult for us,” Siakam said.
Myles Turner added 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who lost to the Lakers in 2000 in their only appearance in the NBA finals.
Siakam finished 15 by 23 from the field on one night that nobody else in high score pales had more than five baskets.
“Special Game,” said the coach of the Pacers, Rick Carlisle. “In the first half it was the guy who took us and took us through some difficult stretching.”
Jalen Brunson had 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, who need a quick change or their first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years will be brief. They defended much better after their overwhelming collapse in An extra time loss 138-135 In game 1, but I couldn't find enough score to return after a bad start to the last quarter.
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May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; The New York Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson (11), controls the ball against the Indiana Pacers striker, Obi Toppin (1) in the last quarter during the game, one of the East Conference finals for the NBA Playoffs of 2025 at the Madison Square Garden. Mandatory credit: (Brad Penner-Imagn images)
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, but Towns played only 28 minutes when coach Tom Thibodeau was longer with Mitchell Robinson, a much better defender who grabbed nine rebounds.
“Upon entering the last quarter is a ball game. We have to make better plays, more winning plays,” Tibodeau said.
He was tied at 81 after three, before the Pacers opened the room with a 13-4 race to advance 94-85 in Triple of Siakam with remaining 9:17. They would quickly push the margin back to there every time the Knicks obtained an impulse, and it was 110-100 after another Siakam basket with 2:45 to play.
The Knicks scored nine in a row to put 110-109 in Josh Hart's basket with 14 seconds for the end. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was fine in an attempt of 3 points and Turner finished it with two free throws.
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The New York Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson (11), controls the ball against the Indiana Pacers striker Aaron Nesmith (23) in the last quarter during the game two of the East Conference finals for the NBA playoffs of 2025 at the Madison Square Garden. (Images of Wendell Cruz-Imagn)
The 50th Playoffs meeting among the rivals, the Pacers lead 28-22, all since 1993, it looked more like their defensive battles of the 1990s than the shooting of two nights before.
Indiana ran to an advantage of 19-9, but the Knicks quickly caught them when Robinson and Deuce McBride entered and the game remained inside a margin of a single digit almost all the rest of the night.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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