The Knicks Just Redefined Choking — And Tyrese Haliburton Made Sure Everybody Knew It

Wow.

What a choke job by the New York Knicks.

A meltdown so dramatic, Tyler Perry couldn’t have scripted it better.

• Up 17 with 6:46 left.

• Up 14 with 2:40 left.

• Up 9 with 52 seconds left.

  
  

And STILL caught a 138-135 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Are you kidding me?!

You can't make this stuff up.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Knicks had a 99.8% win probability late in the fourth quarter.

Let me say that again: 99.8%.

And yet, like your cousin who can’t keep a job longer than two weeks… they fumbled it.

Publicly.

Loudly.

Historically.

🎯 The Collapse Heard Around the League

Before we go any further, let’s just keep it real. This isn’t even about what the Pacers did right—this was about what the Knicks did wrong.

This was a basketball meltdown so catastrophic, the Knicks got knocked down into a stat column NO team wants to be in: Since 1998, playoff teams trailing by 9 or more points in the final minute were 0-1,414.

Now they’re 1-1,414.

And guess who handed them that “1” like a hot plate?

The New York Knicks.

The Haliburton Heat Check

Now let’s talk about the man of the hour: Tyrese Haliburton.

Ice in his veins? Nah.

This man had liquid nitrogen in his bloodstream last night.

With the Pacers down two and the clock winding down, Haliburton drove into the lane, fumbled the rock, but then pulled it back, stepped behind the 3-point line, and let it fly with a whole arena holding its breath.

Clank. 

Off the back of the rim.

But then? The ball bounced straight up like it hit a trampoline—and dropped RIGHT back into the net.

ARE. YOU. SERIOUS?!

MSG went from “Let’s go Knicks!” to “What just happened?” in half a second.

And Haliburton? He didn’t just celebrate—he made it personal.

He broke out Reggie Miller’s infamous “choke” sign. And then POINTED AT REGGIE ON THE TNT BROADCAST.

Bro was living in theater mode on national TV.

And to think Haliburton was voted most overrated in the NBA players poll this year.

SHEESH.

But after the dust settled and the officials reviewed it, the shot was ruled a two-pointer — not a game-winner — just enough to tie it and send it to overtime.

Brunson and KAT Gave You All They Had

Let’s not ignore the effort from the stars in orange and blue.

Jalen Brunson dropped 43, giving us his best Iverson impression. Karl-Anthony Towns went for 35 and 12.

But none of it mattered.

The moment Brunson hit the bench with foul trouble in the fourth, the Knicks started treating defensive rotations like they were optional.

Haliburton, Nesmith, and a crew of role players turned into the Monstars—ripping off a run that felt inevitable.

Aaron Nesmith went 8-for-9 from three.  That’s not basketball. That’s a heatwave with a basketball in its hand.

😤 Same Ol' Knicks Energy

Knicks fans: y’all deserve better. But right now, this team has that same old energy—big hype, no finish.

You let a team from Indiana walk into MSG, erase a 99.8% win probability, and style on y’all like it was 1995.

You don’t just recover from that emotionally. You don’t sleep well after that. You start hearing Reggie Miller’s laugh in your nightmares.

This Wasn’t a Loss—It Was a Message

Let’s be real: Game 1s are about setting the tone.

MSG wasn’t just silent. It was haunted. If the Knicks don’t respond in Game 2, this series might get short real quick.

🗣 Final Word

Pressure either busts pipes... or exposes the Knicks.

And Haliburton? He put a bow on that choke job with a taunt for the history books.

Now he’s out here giving Spike Lee flashbacks.

Game 2 isn’t a bounce-back.

It's a must-win.

Because if the Knicks mess around and lose that too?

You might as well bring back Charles Oakley and a prayer circle.