The recent clash between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 has once again rekindled one of the NBA’s most storied and dramatic rivalries. Following a game described as “too absurd for words,” Tyrese Haliburton emerged as the pivotal figure, his buzzer-beating heroics and expressive postgame gestures tying deeply into the historic shorthand and saga that defines Knicks-Pacers playoff battles.
The Absurdity and Drama of Game 1: A New Chapter in a Historic Rivalry
On May 22, 2025, the Pacers pulled off an incredible comeback in Game 1 against the Knicks, overturning a 14-point deficit with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter to force overtime and eventually win 138-135. The Knicks seemed poised for a straightforward victory after Jalen Brunson extended their lead to 14 points with under three minutes left. However, Aaron Nesmith sparked a furious Pacers rally, culminating in Tyrese Haliburton’s extraordinary buzzer-beating three-pointer with his toe on the line to tie the game and send it into overtime.
This sequence reenergized the Pacers fanbase and echoed some of the most dramatic moments in NBA history. The game’s intensity, the late lead changes, and the eventual Pacers triumph created a narrative so improbable and thrilling it was deemed almost “too absurd for words” by sports analysts. Haliburton’s buzzer-beater became the signature moment, etching the night into playoff lore and adding to the Knicks-Pacers stories of miraculous comebacks and clutch performances.
Tyrese Haliburton Channeling History: The ‘Choke Sign’ and Pineapple Celebration
In a nod to the past, Haliburton celebrated his clutch shots by flashing a “choke sign” and eating pineapple, a symbolic gesture with deep roots in the Knicks-Pacers rivalry. The “choke sign” dates back to the rivalry’s iconic moments between Reggie Miller and the Knicks, particularly his confrontations with Knicks superfan Spike Lee in the 1990s. Miller famously taunted Lee and the Knicks crowd with a choke gesture after crucial plays, cementing his reputation as the “Knick-Killer” and injecting psychological edge into one of the NBA’s fiercest rivalries.
Haliburton’s use of this sign recalls that era, deliberately distracting and taunting the Knicks while celebrating a stunning clutch performance. His addition of pineapple—a quirky, unexpected element—adds a modern twist and personal flare to the age-old tradition of post-game celebrations loaded with symbolism. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle endorsed Haliburton’s freedom to celebrate as he pleases, acknowledging that he had “earned the right” to express himself and embrace the role of the Pacers’ new villain in this historic rivalry.
The Knicks-Pacers Rivalry: A Backdrop of Drama, Iconic Moments, and Emotional Playoffs
The Knicks and Pacers have met eight times in the postseason, producing a treasure trove of unforgettable basketball moments, charged personal duels, and heated fan interactions. The rivalry is marked by:
– Reggie Miller’s clutch late-game heroics, including his legendary eight points in 8.9 seconds during the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, which changed NBA playoff lore forever.
– Psychological warfare exemplified by Miller’s choke sign to Spike Lee, fueling one of the sport’s most intense fan-player confrontations.
– Fierce battles involving star players like Patrick Ewing and memorable playoff series in both the 1990s and recent years.
– Renewals during the 2023 and 2024 playoffs, where the teams pushed one another to limits, with the Pacers and Knicks each enjoying victories that only intensified mutual animosity.
These elements combined contribute to a rivalry that is much more than just wins and losses—it’s about pride, legacy, and the passionate emotions shared by players and fans alike. The Pacers’ latest victory in Game 1 adds a new dramatic chapter, further deepening the narrative for seasons to come.
The Psychological Weight of Choke Moments in Knicks-Pacers Battles
The “choke” motif, so pivotal in this rivalry, symbolizes the psychological pressure and collapse under fire, a theme that the Knicks have been painfully familiar with in this series. The New York team’s 17-point lead late in Game 1, followed by a slow unraveling, echoes past moments when the Knicks succumbed to Pacers comebacks. This repetition has been a central storyline featuring fingers of blame pointed at key players or coaching decisions but also highlighting the mental toughness of the Pacers in critical moments.
Haliburton’s reenactment of the choke gesture can be seen not only as a celebration but a psychological jibe—an embodiment of Pacers’ confidence and Knicks’ fragility under pressure. It taps into the cultural memory and rivalry lore, intensifying the stakes and emotional charge of the contest.
Impact and Expectations Moving Forward
The Pacers’ Game 1 victory, especially given the striking manner of their comeback and Haliburton’s star turn, sets a compelling tone for the remainder of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks, historically prone to “choke jobs” against Indiana in critical moments, face an amplified challenge to overcome both the scoreboard and the psychological edge now held by the Pacers.
The series is shaping up as a high-stakes narrative filled with echoes of history, dramatic comebacks, taunts, and celebrations—and the 2025 edition is poised to add more memorable moments to the rivalry.
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Conclusion: A Rivalry That Continues to Define Playoff Drama
The Knicks-Pacers rivalry remains one of the NBA’s most electrifying sagas, defined not just by basketball talent but by moments of near-mythic absurdity, dramatic comebacks, and psychological battles. The 2025 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 showcased this perfectly, with Tyrese Haliburton writing himself into the rivalry’s annals through a buzzer-beater, a symbolic “choke sign,” and new-age celebrations featuring pineapple.
This game was more than a win; it was a statement—a modern echo of Reggie Miller’s legacy, a nod to fierce competition, and the embodiment of the high emotional stakes that make Knicks-Pacers playoff encounters must-watch basketball. As the series unfolds, basketball fans can expect more memorable, intense, and “too absurd for words” moments from two franchises whose playoff battles have long been etched into NBA history.
