In the high-stakes theater of NBA playoffs, where logic often bows to superstition, the New York Knicks’ catastrophic Game 1 collapse against the Indiana Pacers has spawned an unlikely villain: Livvy Dunne, the 22-year-old LSU gymnastics star turned social media sensation. What began as a night of hope at Madison Square Garden ended in a viral frenzy, with fans blaming Dunne and her sister Julz for “cursing” the Knicks after their 17-point lead evaporated in the final minutes. The absurd yet irresistible narrative of the “Dunne Curse” now dominates sports discourse—a modern parable of fandom, fate, and the internet’s love for a scapegoat.
The Night the “Curse” Was Born
On May 21, 2025, the Knicks seemed destined to seize Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Jalen Brunson’s 36-point performance had electrified the Garden, and with a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter, victory felt inevitable—until it didn’t. The Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith ignited a historic comeback, capped by Haliburton’s gravity-defying buzzer-beater to force overtime, where Indiana clinched a 138-135 win.
Amid the chaos, cameras captured Livvy and Julz Dunne courtside, clad in Knicks gear and sipping drinks. Mid-game, Livvy posted a TikTok joking, “This is great and all but how does this affect Lebron’s legacy?”—a lighthearted quip that aged like milk. As the Knicks unraveled, fans fixated on the sisters’ presence, igniting a wildfire of blame. “Thanks for jinxing us ladies,” one fan seethed. “Don’t go back to anymore games”.
The Anatomy of a Viral Scapegoat
The “Dunne Curse” isn’t just about one game. It taps into a deeper, older sports tradition: the search for mystical culprits when logic fails. Livvy and Julz, with their track record of ill-fated appearances, fit the bill perfectly. Weeks earlier, they’d attended Super Bowl LIX in Kansas City Chiefs gear, only to watch their team lose. Even Livvy’s boyfriend, Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, suffered a tough-luck loss despite a stellar outing while they cheered him on.
Fans weaponized these coincidences. Memes flooded social media: Livvy photoshopped into scenes from The Exorcist, Julz dubbed “The Grim Reaper of Sports.” One viral post declared, “Livvy got the Pirates stank on my Knicks”. The sisters’ glamorous courtside recap—posted hours before the collapse—drew sarcastic replies like, “Yeah, you change the game all right—from a Knicks victory to a loss”.
The Reality Behind the Rage
Of course, curses aren’t real. The Knicks lost because of missed free throws, defensive breakdowns, and Haliburton’s icy resolve. As Pacers coach Rick Carlisle shrugged, “It was awfully high-intensity basketball”—not sorcery. Yet, in the digital age, narratives often eclipse facts. The “Dunne Curse” thrives because it’s relatable: a blend of dark humor and collective catharsis for a fanbase haunted by decades of heartbreak.
The Knicks’ history amplifies the myth. From Willis Reed’s limping heroics to Reggie Miller’s 8 points in 9 seconds, MSG has witnessed miracles and meltdowns. This collapse—up 9 points with 58 seconds left—felt uniquely cruel, a “soul-snatching defeat” that left 20,000 fans in stunned silence. When logic offers no solace, superstition becomes a coping mechanism.
Sports’ Eternal Dance with Superstition
The “Dunne Curse” joins a pantheon of sports jinxes: the Billy Goat Curse, the Madden Cover Curse, even the “Drake Jinx.” Athletes themselves aren’t immune. LeBron James once blamed a loss on wearing a new headband. But Livvy’s case is distinct—a Gen-Z twist where influencer culture collides with old-school fandom.
Her TikTok, with its 12 million followers, epitomizes this shift. Modern fans don’t just watch games; they dissect every tweet, outfit, and courtside reaction. Livvy’s mere presence—a non-athlete in a Knicks jersey—became a Rorschach test for collective anxiety. As one analyst noted, “In the age of virality, even bystanders can become protagonists in the drama”.
Moving Forward: Knicks’ Redemption or Curse’s Reign?
As the series shifts to Indianapolis, the Knicks face a 0-2 deficit—a hole no team has escaped since 1956 without home-court advantage. For Livvy and Julz, the spotlight is double-edged. Their brand thrives on engagement, but the backlash risks typecasting them as sports’ unlucky charms.
Yet, there’s irony here. The same fans blaming Livvy are the ones who once hailed Suni Lee as a “good luck charm” for OG Anunoby. Sports fandom is fickle, and curses are often broken as quickly as they’re born. If the Knicks rally, Livvy’s narrative could flip from jinx to jubilation.
For now, the “Dunne Curse” endures—a testament to sports’ power to unite logic and lunacy, analytics and aura. As Haliburton’s shot hung in the air, “the ball felt like it was up there for eternity,” he said. So too does this myth, suspended between reality and the rabbit hole of the internet.
Game 3 tips off Sunday, May 25, at 8:00 PM ET in Indianapolis.
For more on the Knicks-Pacers series or Livvy Dunne’s viral moments, explore the sources linked above .
