It was a wild scene in Game 1 on Tuesday as the New York Knicks fought desperately to hold their lead against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. In a stunning turn of events, the Knicks gave up a 14-point lead in less than three minutes to lose the game in overtime. To make matters even worse, two of the Knicks’ most prominent players were caught having a heated altercation on the sidelines before giving up a late-game run.
OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns on the Knicks bench BEFORE they blew the big game 1 lead 👀
(h/t @El_Jeffe_Dinero)pic.twitter.com/MRMSsOsU53
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 22, 2025
Chemistry is everything in the playoffs, and the Knicks thought they were fine after beating the Pistons and Celtics in the first two rounds. Behind a star-studded starting lineup and the leadership of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks won 51 games in the regular season, and the success translated well in the postseason until Game 1 this week.
The Knicks had a big lead for most of the game, but costly mistakes down the stretch, combined with hot shooting from the Pacers, led to an impossible comeback that has given Indiana all the momentum in the series. The loss left New York with a lot of questions, but also exposed some heat within their own ranks.
In the short clip, you can see OG and Towns going at each other with just 34 seconds left in the game. Whether it was a disagreement on shot selection or some kind of miscommunication on defense, the two were clearly not on the same page, and it was enough to spark an outburst of frustration from Jalen Brunson.
Up five with momentum slipping, the Knicks needed to rally together to hold the lead and secure the win. Instead, division was sown from within, as Brunson tried (and failed) to make peace between his teammates.
What happened next can only be described as a disaster for New York, as they proceeded to give up their double-digit lead and lose the game in overtime. The Knicks were completely outplayed in the clutch, and by the time they took their final game-winning shot attempt, the players were too tired to make it count.
As two newcomers to the Knicks, Towns and Anunoby have had to adjust this season like everyone else, but the situation is different without a true superstar. With the Knicks, there is no clear-cut leader or top 10 player. Instead, they have a collection of unproven All-Stars who are each trying to take control and steer the team in their image.
Depending on how the season ends, the Knicks may consider some additional roster moves if they think the situation will turn toxic. We know they have several potential trade targets, including Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, but no deal is currently in the works right now.
Whatever the reason behind their collapse, New York has some serious ground to make up after letting Game 1 slip away. To start, they need to resolve tensions in the locker room and establish a game plan that everyone can agree on. After that, every player needs to fulfill their role and live up to their expectations.
After Game 1, the Knicks are facing an uphill battle, but the series is not over yet. If the Knicks take Game 2, there is a path to winning the series and making the Finals for the first time since 1973. If that doesn’t resolve the growing divide in the Knicks’ locker room, then nothing else will.
