Cheers could be heard in the Senate on Wednesday night during the thrilling first game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers came out on top, beating the Knicks 138-135 in overtime. The match-up was closely watched by many basketball fans in the upper chamber while the Senate held a series of procedural votes to circumvent the parliamentarian’s ruling.
The Senate eventually passed a measure to axe California’s electric vehicle mandate Thursday morning in a 51-44 vote, sending it to President Trump’s desk.
On Wednesday night, cheers erupted as the senators watched the contentious NBA playoff game, and at one point, the Senate clerk said, “Indiana must have won.”
Indiana Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) was one of the lawmakers following the game, supporting his home-state team to a victory.
The Pacers trailed by as many as 14 points late in the fourth quarter, but they rallied with the help of Aaron Nesmith, who connected on six 3-pointers in the final five minutes of regulation. Nesmith, who finished the game with 30 points, became the first NBA player to hit six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a playoff game.
Still, the Pacers trailed by 2 points after Knicks forward OG Anunoby made a free throw with 7.3 seconds left in regulation. Star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton carried the ball upcourt, driving into the paint before dribbling out to the perimeter for shot as time expired. The ball hit the back of the rim, bounced straight up and fell into the net after the buzzer sounded.
The Pacers initially celebrated as if they won, but referees reviewed the shot and found Haliburton’s toe was on the 3-point line, so the game went to overtime.
Indiana went on to win in the extra frame, led by Haliburton, who finished with 31 points and 11 assists.
“It felt like it got stuck up there. And honestly, like, when it went in, I was like my eyes might have been deceiving me in the moment. But it felt good — it felt good when it left my hand,” Haliburton said after the game.
The teams are set to face off for Game 2 on Friday night.