Knicks Face Audacious Pacers Test in Eastern Conference Finals: Adjustments Key After Game 1 Thriller

Knicks on the Back Foot After Game 1 Shootout with Pacers

The Eastern Conference Finals are serving up exactly the kind of drama fans crave, but it’s the New York Knicks left searching for answers after a wild 138-135 overtime loss in Game 1 to the Indiana Pacers. This one wasn’t just a barnburner on the scoreboard—every possession felt heavy with playoff pressure, and both teams showed why they’ve made it this far. Yet if the Knicks want to keep their Eastern Conference Finals dreams alive, there’s no time to let this thriller linger. They’ll need to dig into the details and rethink their game plan, fast.

Karl-Anthony Towns stole the late-game spotlight for Indy, draining a three in the clutch to knot things up and, with the Pacers’ deep bench in tow, powered them past a Knicks squad that started hot but ran into trouble weathering Indiana’s full-court pressure. Towns wasn’t Indiana’s only weapon—what really separated the Pacers was how nearly everyone got involved early. Eight Pacers notched points in the first half, keeping New York guessing and forcing adjustments on every trip down the floor.

Jalen Brunson was New York’s stabilizer, shaking off defenders to hit big shots and pacing the offense when things got ragged. His 48% from deep kept the Knicks afloat, and those dagger fadeaways quieted the Indiana crowd more than once. But it’s a tough task for Brunson to outduel the Pacers’ entire cast when only Obi Toppin and Miles Bridges managed meaningful support. The disparity in depth was hard to ignore. When the Pacers rotated in fresh legs like Myles Turner and Isaiah Hartenstein, New York’s defense couldn’t always keep up—especially on the glass, where Indiana’s offensive rebounding led to crucial second-chance points.

What the Knicks Must Fix to Change the Series

What’s hurting the Knicks most right now isn’t just the score, but the style with which the Pacers close out games. Indiana’s willingness to move the ball, trust their bench, and hit open looks is exposing every chink in the Knicks’ defensive armor. The challenge for Tom Thibodeau and the coaching staff is clear: limit Towns’ late-game isolation plays and plug the leaks on the perimeter, all without wearing down Brunson with heavy defensive responsibilities.

• Defensive Adjustments: It’s on the Knicks’ frontcourt to make life harder for Towns. Simply throwing bodies at him isn’t enough; New York has to mix up double teams, show him different looks, and get him working for every shot. Closeouts on Indiana’s shooters need to be smarter—running them off the three-point line rather than simply contesting jumpers.
• Rotations and Bench Usage: Indiana’s depth advantage was on full display. Thibodeau may have to cut the rotation down and rely on trusted defenders like Josh Hart in bigger roles. Giving more minutes to players who can switch onto Indiana’s shooters or crash the glass would also help curb those crushing offensive rebounds.
• Offensive Pacing: Running every play through Brunson works until the Pacers start trapping him. New York needs to get Toppin more involved in transition for easy buckets and look to exploit mismatches when Indiana puts a smaller guard on Bridges or any backup big on Toppin.

The series is just heating up, but what’s clear after Game 1 is that talent alone won’t swing it for the Knicks. They need a mixture of tactical discipline, defensive grit, and someone besides Brunson to step up under the bright lights. There’s no guarantee Indiana cools off, but if the Knicks can answer the Pacers’ depth with a little more discipline—and maybe a dash of unpredictability—a comeback isn’t out of reach.