Basketball in May just hits differently, especially when it involves the Garden. If you were watching the Indiana vs New York Game 1 matchup on May 6, 2024, you know exactly what I mean. It wasn't just a game. It was a chaotic, high-stakes car crash of elite shot-making and officiating that had every Pacers fan in America screaming at their television.
New York walked away with a 121-117 victory, but the final score barely tells the story. For 48 minutes, Madison Square Garden felt like the center of the universe.
Jalen Brunson was out there doing things that shouldn't be legal. He dropped 43 points. It was his fourth straight game scoring at least 40, putting him in a room with guys like Michael Jordan and Jerry West. Honestly, the way he manipulates defenders to get to his spots is kinda hypnotic. But while Brunson was the hero for the Knicks, the Pacers left the building feeling like they'd been robbed in broad daylight.
The Calls That Defined Indiana vs New York Game 1
Look, I hate being the guy who complains about the refs. Most of the time, teams lose because they missed free throws or couldn't grab a rebound. But the final minute of this game was... something else.
The most egregious moment happened with about 52 seconds left. The game was tied at 115. Aaron Nesmith appeared to get a clean steal on a pass from Brunson. He clearly hit it with his hand. Instead, the whistle blew for a kicked ball violation.
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Because a kicked ball isn't reviewable under NBA rules, the Knicks kept the ball. On the very next play, Donte DiVincenzo buried a three-pointer that essentially broke Indiana’s back. Crew chief Zach Zarba actually admitted after the game that they got it wrong. He told a pool reporter that the ball hit Nesmith’s hand, which is perfectly legal.
But wait, there's more.
Just a few seconds later, with Indiana down by one and trying to set up a play, Myles Turner was called for an illegal screen on DiVincenzo. Was it a bit of a moving screen? Maybe. Is it called in the final 20 seconds of a playoff game? Almost never. It was a "marginal contact" world for Brunson on one end, but a "letter of the law" world for Turner on the other.
By the Numbers: How the Knicks Survived
The box score for Indiana vs New York Game 1 reveals a massive divide in how these teams operate. Indiana's bench was absolutely lethal. T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin (who had a between-the-legs dunk in transition that made me jump off my couch) helped the second unit outscore New York's bench 46-3.
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Three points. That’s all the Knicks' bench gave them.
But Tom Thibodeau doesn't care about "depth" in the traditional sense. He rides his starters until the wheels fall off. Josh Hart played all 48 minutes. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. The man is a cardio machine.
- Jalen Brunson: 43 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists.
- Josh Hart: 24 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists (0 minutes of rest).
- Donte DiVincenzo: 25 points, including the go-ahead three.
- Myles Turner: 23 points (Pacers' high-point man).
- Tyrese Haliburton: 6 points, 8 assists (A very quiet night for the All-Star).
Haliburton’s performance was probably the biggest "what if" for Indiana. He was dealing with back spasms and looked hesitant. In a game decided by four points, your franchise player only taking six shots is a recipe for a heartbreak.
Why This Game Shifted the Series Narrative
Before tip-off, most people thought Indiana’s pace would eventually wear the Knicks down. New York was already missing Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson was banged up, and Bojan Bogdanovic was out.
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Instead, the Indiana vs New York Game 1 battle showed that the Knicks were willing to turn every game into a street fight. They won the rebounding battle 40-32. They lived at the free-throw line, shooting 26 attempts compared to Indiana's 19.
The Pacers proved they belonged, though. They led by nine in the fourth quarter. They played "beautiful basketball," as some analysts called it, moving the ball and finding shooters. But the Garden crowd and the Brunson heater proved to be too much of a mountain to climb.
It's sort of wild to think about how much the "kicked ball" changed the trajectory of the series. If Indiana gets that steal, they likely go up by two with 50 seconds left. They might take Game 1 on the road. Instead, they spent the next 48 hours filing a formal grievance with the league office, claiming there were 78 "incorrect" calls over the first two games of the series.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking back at this game to understand future matchups between these two styles of play, there are a few things you’ve gotta keep in mind:
- Watch the "Home Whistle": It’s a cliché for a reason. In high-pressure environments like MSG, the 50/50 calls often lean toward the home team. If you're betting, factor in the "referee factor" in high-market venues.
- Minutes Matter: Keep an eye on the "Thibs Effect." If a team is playing its starters 45+ minutes in Game 1, they might be vulnerable by Game 5 or 6 due to sheer exhaustion.
- Bench Scoring vs. Star Power: Indiana proved that a deep bench can keep you in a game, but New York proved that one superstar scoring 40+ can negate an entire second unit. In the playoffs, the "best player on the floor" usually wins.
Analyze the film of how the Knicks trapped Tyrese Haliburton in this game. They forced him to be a passer and dared the other Pacers to beat them. It worked. Moving forward, any team facing a pass-first point guard should look at the Game 1 blueprint New York used.
The officiating errors in Indiana vs New York Game 1 were a mess, but the basketball was elite. It set the stage for one of the most toxic, entertaining, and physical series we've seen in years. Whether you think the refs handed it to the Knicks or Brunson earned it with blood and sweat, you can't deny it was an instant classic.