Pacers' Game 1 triumph becomes heartfelt tribute to late Colts owner Jim Irsay

As the Indiana Pacers took the floor at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they were unknowingly playing under the shadow of a farewell message from one of the most iconic figures in Indiana sports.

Jim Irsay, the longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, had posted his final tweet on Wednesday evening, offering a message of encouragement to the Pacers ahead of their clash with the New York Knicks.

"Go PACERS. Good luck to Herb, the entire @Pacers organization, and our city!" Irsay wrote. The message, brief yet heartfelt, would turn out to be his final public statement before ing away peacefully in his sleep later that day at the age of 65.

The timing was poignant. Within hours, the Pacers delivered one of their most emotional and thrilling playoff performances in recent memory-a 138-135 overtime victory that felt like more than just a win. It was, in many ways, a tribute.

Haliburton, Nesmith lead Pacers to emotional overtime win

The Pacers entered the game with momentum and left with a statement. Tyrese Haliburton poured in 31 points and added 11 assists, while Aaron Nesmith was electric from deep, shooting 8-of-9 from three-point range en route to 30 points.

Though the Knicks held control for much of the second half, the Pacers clawed their way back, culminating in a clutch Haliburton jumper at the end of regulation that forced overtime.

"I thought it was a 3," Haliburton said in his postgame interview with TNT. "I tried to hit the celly and it didn't work. But we finished it in overtime."

The celebration mirrored a classic moment from Pacers lore-Reggie Miller's "choke" gesture from the 1994 playoffs-and reflected just how much this win meant.

Indiana fans, already stirred by the ing of Irsay, now had something to cheer about. For a franchise and a city that Irsay ed beyond football, the timing could not have been more symbolic.

The Pacers ultimately secured a 1-0 series lead behind gritty performances and timely plays. Pascal Siakam added 17 points and 6 assists, and Myles Turner chipped in with 14. On the Knicks' side, Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 43 points, but it wasn't enough to fend off Indiana's late surge.

A legacy beyond football

Jim Irsay's contributions to Indianapolis sports cannot be overstated. After inheriting the Colts from his father in 1997, Irsay oversaw the franchise's most successful era, including a Super Bowl victory in 2007 and a second appearance in 2010. He was widely praised for his loyalty to the city and his efforts to local teams, including the Pacers.

He was also a lover of music and memorabilia, owning one of the world's most impressive collections of rock and sports artifacts. But perhaps most telling of Irsay's character was his devotion to Indianapolis as a whole. His final act-wishing luck to another local team-embodied that spirit.

Peyton Manning, who led the Colts to their Super Bowl win, reflected on Irsay's influence, writing, "He was an incredibly generous and ionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched."

As the Pacers continue their playoff journey, Game 1 will be ed not just for Haliburton's heroics or Nesmith's sharpshooting, but for how a city united in sport and in mourning. Jim Irsay's final words of rang loud-and Indiana delivered.