In a thrilling Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the New York Knicks emerged victorious with a 121-117 win over the Indiana Pacers. The game, however, was not without its share of controversy, particularly in the final moments.
With just 15 seconds remaining on the clock and the Pacers trailing by one point, a crucial play unfolded. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton advanced up the court, only to be met with an illegal screen set by Myles Turner on New York's Donte DiVincenzo. The resulting offensive foul called on Turner sparked a series of events that would impact the outcome of the game.
Following the call, the Pacers challenged the ruling but were unsuccessful in overturning it. The NBA's Last Two Minute Report later confirmed the correctness of the initial call, adding to the drama of the closing moments of the game.
The report also highlighted several other missed calls in the final two minutes of play. Turner was found to have committed another illegal screen on DiVincenzo earlier in the sequence, and an erroneous kicked ball violation was called on Aaron Nesmith with under a minute left. Additionally, a defensive three-second violation on Turner went unnoticed by the officials with just over a minute remaining.
Despite the missed calls, the Knicks capitalized on their opportunities, ultimately sealing the victory with three free throws after Turner's foul. Prior to that, DiVincenzo had extended New York's lead with a crucial 3-pointer, following a controversial kicked ball violation call against Nesmith that was later deemed incorrect upon review.
Reflecting on the game, Turner expressed his belief that players should determine the outcome of matches, hinting at his disappointment with the officiating decisions. The Knicks and the Pacers are now gearing up for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, where the intensity of their playoff series is expected to continue.
