Basketball NBA Game Recap May 21st 2025

Haliburton Ignites Late Surge with MSG Statement

Tyrese Haliburton once again embraced the spotlight — and the boos — at Madison Square Garden. The Indiana Pacers guard delivered 31 points and 11 assists in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, leading a furious late rally to top the New York Knicks 138-135 in overtime.

Aaron Nesmith was the unexpected hero, dropping 30 points on 8-of-9 shooting from deep — including five 3-pointers in the final 3:30 of regulation. His late barrage helped the Pacers erase a 14-point deficit in the last 2:39 and force OT after Haliburton’s would-be buzzer-beater was ruled a long two.

For those tracking the best postseason performers, Haliburton’s rise has him climbing the charts on our Best Handicappers Leaderboard.

Knicks Collapse Late Despite Brunson, Towns Efforts

Jalen Brunson poured in 43 points, but foul trouble and costly turnovers unraveled the Knicks late. Brunson picked up his fifth foul with 10 minutes left in the fourth, and although New York surged to a 14-0 run without him, Indiana’s relentless push flipped the script.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 35 points and 12 boards, shooting 4-of-8 from three — a big bounce-back from his rough series against Boston. But missed shots in crunch time and a deflected pass with under 30 seconds to go opened the door for the Pacers, who slammed it shut with an Obi Toppin dunk.

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Looking Ahead: Game 2 Set for Friday Night at MSG

“It’s a long series. We’re not gonna get too excited about this,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Game 2’s gonna be another war.”

Andrew Nembhard chipped in with a huge OT performance, Pascal Siakam scored 17, and Myles Turner added 14 in the balanced Indiana attack. For those betting on total team efforts, this series is a strong case study — and you can sharpen your strategy using our Expert NBA Betting Guide.

Brunson and Towns both missed potential game-tying threes in the final seconds, sealing New York’s collapse. Expect sharper adjustments next time — and don’t forget to consult the latest NBA Scores and Odds ahead of Game 2.

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Game Preview: New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers

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