Ben Stiller and 50 Cent sit courtside as Knicks secure dramatic Game 1 win over the Pacers after controversial call against Myles Turner

Two controversial calls in the final seconds of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers gave the home team Knicks a win.

Jalen Brunson continued his postseason magic with 43 points for his fourth straight 40-point effort as the Knicks posted a 121-117 win in front of a raucous crowd at Madison Square Garden that included Ben Stiller and 50 Cent.

But a late kick-ball foul on Aaron Nesmith and a later moving screen on Myles Turner doomed Indiana in a close-fought game that went down to the wire.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half and Josh Hart added 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for New York. Isaiah Hartenstein had 13 points and OG Anunoby added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks.

Myles Turner scored 23 points, Pascal Siakam added 19 and TJ McConnell had 18 points for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin each scored 12 points and Andrew Nembhard scored 11 points.

Brunson dropped 43 points for his fourth straight playoff game and scored 40 points or more

Celebrities in attendance – Top: Ben Stiller (L), 50 Cent (R) / Bottom: Rainn Wilson (L), Spike Lee (R)

Game 2 is Wednesday night in New York.

Brunson became the fourth player in NBA playoff history to score 40 or more points in four consecutive games. Jerry West achieved that record six times in a row in 1965. Bernard King (1984) and Michael Jordan (1993) did so in four consecutive games.

With the score tied at 115-115, the officials called a foul on Nesmith, who on repeat clearly hit the Pacers forward’s hand, not his foot. Officials admitted after the game that they had made a mistake.

DiVincenzo drained a 3-pointer to give the Knicks a 118-115 lead with 40.4 seconds left.

Indiana pulled within one second on Siakam’s driving layup with 26.6 seconds left.

The Pacers later had a chance to take the lead, but Turner was called for a moving screen with 12.7 seconds left. The Indiana center was stunned by the decision.

Indiana made another mistake when Nembhard fouled Brunson before the ball went in. Brunson made the ensuing free throw and New York retained possession.

Brunson was fouled with 10.7 seconds to play and made two free throws to give New York a 121-117 lead, and the Knicks closed it out.

A controversial call at the end involved a moving pick foul on Myles Turner (33)

After the game ended, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle addressed the call of the illegal screen on Turner.

‘I don’t want to talk about the officiant. We don’t expect to get any calls here. It would be nice if they fired them, but they didn’t.

‘That’s just how it goes. We challenged it. They reviewed it. There are some people in New Jersey who agree with them, so that’s just the way it goes.”

Turner answered both calls when speaking to the media: “I think it’s best if the players decide the outcome of the game.”

“I think we’re all looking forward to the Last 2 Minute Report coming out. I think there were two controversial calls. Aaron Nesmith’s kick ball was not a kick ball. You can see it clearly on the replay.’

The social media reaction to Turner’s foul favored the Pacers, despite officials reviewing the call and then upholding it.

The social media reaction to this errant call was in favor of Turner and the Pacers’ case

‘Yes, hear that whistle about Myles Turner. Horrible. Let them play referees,” wrote Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports.

‘[Golden State] built a dynasty pass blocker, but Myles Turner didn’t stand still in front of the screen for five seconds in the game’s biggest moment and it’s an instant call,” joked NBA TikTok influencer JokicJoestar.

Kevin Wildes of Fox Sports also chimed in, saying, “I’m in for the Knicks, but that’s a terrible call on Myles Turner.

“Myles Turner moved, but that’s a crazy INSTANT WHISTLE in this situation,” wrote former Barstool Sports VP Steven Cheah.