On Wednesday night, the Senate was buzzing with excitement during the first game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, where the New York Knicks faced off against the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers emerged victorious, edging out the Knicks 138-135 in overtime. Many basketball enthusiasts in the Senate were keeping an eye on the closely contested match while the chamber was engaged in procedural votes to steer clear of Congressional intervention.
By Thursday morning, the Senate had voted 51-44 to transfer California’s electric vehicle mandate to the AX, sending it off to President Trump’s desk.
Cheers erupted among senators as they followed the intense NBA playoff game. One senator commented, “Indiana must have won.”
Indiana’s Senator Todd Young (R-ind.) was among the lawmakers supporting his state’s team. Following the game, he expressed his enthusiasm for the Pacers’ win.
The Pacers, who had fallen behind by 14 points in the fourth quarter, rallied thanks to Aaron Nesmith, who nailed six three-pointers in the last five minutes of regulation. Ending the game with 30 points, he made history as the first NBA player to score six three-pointers in a playoff game’s fourth quarter.
Despite trailing, the Pacers managed to keep the game close after Knicks forward OG Anunoby made a free throw with just 7.3 seconds remaining in regulation. Star guard Tyrese Halliburton took charge, driving into the paint before stepping back to attempt a shot as time expired. The ball bounced off the back rim and, after the buzzer went off, it fell into the net.
Initially, the Pacers celebrated as if they had clinched the win, but after a referee review, it was revealed that Halliburton’s toe was on the three-point line, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Indiana secured the win, led by Halliburton, who finished with 31 points and 11 assists.
“It felt like I was in a zone, and honestly, I might have been tricked by the moment. But when it left my hands, it just felt right,” Halliburton remarked after the game.
The Pacers are slated to face off in Game 2 on Friday night.
