Isaiah Hartenstein breathed life into the Knicks with a half-court buzzer-beater at the end of the first half of Game 1 in their second-round series against the Pacers.
He was an unexpected candidate to take the shot. The six-year NBA veteran entered the game with one career playoff three-point attempt — a miss in Game 3 of New York’s first-round series against the Sixers. He was also just 1-of-3 on attempts from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
The bucket pulled New York within six, 55-49, following Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s 25-footer with three seconds remaining to give Indiana a nine-point edge.
The Knicks were outscored 31-22 in the second quarter after jumping out to a three-point lead in the first 12 minutes. They entered Game 1 as a 5.5-point favorite, per ESPN Bet.
Hartenstein’s make could provide the spark the Knicks need in the second half to overtake the underdog Pacers.
