As we've seen this season and in the playoffs, the Knicks too often require a kick in the behind when they struggle against the top teams.

The sudden silence among Knicks fans spoke volumes. As the Indiana Pacers celebrated Tyrese Haliburton’s stepback buzzer beater in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, a sellout Madison Square Garden hushed in disbelief.

For as much as the Knicks need to refocus on Friday night’s enormous Game 2, they also have to remember what led to them blowing a 14-point lead in the final 2:39 of regulation to avoid it happening again.

In the final minute of overtime, an Obi Toppin follow-up dunk and nifty pass from Haliburton to a cutting Andew Nembhard gave the Pacers the spark they needed to withstand two late three-point attempts from New York stars Jalen Brunson (43 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (35 points), which would have tied the game.

Knicks fans were ready to celebrate a certain Game 1 win. Then there was an inexplicable and painful loss as the party turned into a wake.

With the Knicks leading comfortably and seemingly on their way to a win, a bettor on prediction market Kalshi wagered a large sum of $9,626 with the hopes of profiting $77. Kalshi has since confirmed the wager’s authenticity to The Post.

The Indiana Pacers star sent Wednesday's Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 to overtime with another sensational buzzer-beater that capped a stunning New York Knicks collapse in the fourth quarter. It led to a 138-135 Pacers overtime win to steal a 1-0 lead in front of a stunned Madison Square Garden crowd.