The New York Knicks clawed back from a 20-point deficit to snatch a 106-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night.
The Pacers, already ahead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, looked to be in full control through three quarters. They limited Jalen Brunson’s impact by drawing four fouls on the All-NBA guard and restricting him to 4-for-14 shooting, while Indiana’s home crowd roared as their team’s lead swelled to 20 in the first half.
But with everything on the line in the final quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered the kind of performance that can change a season’s trajectory.
After a quiet first three quarters and facing early foul trouble, Towns erupted for 20 points in the fourth quarter, matching Indiana’s entire output for the period.
His outburst included a deep 27-foot three-pointer, a layup, and a defensive rebound-turned-outlet-pass for another bucket.
Towns’ heroics gave the Knicks the edge they needed until Brunson, who sat for most of the fourth due to five fouls, nailed the tiebreaking 12-foot floater with 1:17 left.
“I know you guys roll your eyes when I say no lead is safe, but no lead is safe,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who’s now overseen three playoff wins this year with comebacks of at least 20 points.
gonna build on this 😤 pic.twitter.com/3y4lbjwaXa
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2025
Towns finished with a game-high 24 points, going 6-of-9 from the field and grabbing eight rebounds in the final frame alone.
“The game wasn’t looking great for me. But for all of us, I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help put us in a position to win,” Towns said.
With Brunson stuck on the bench until the final minutes, the Knicks leaned on unheralded players like Delon Wright and Landry Shamet, whose defensive effort helped spark the comeback.
“I think at first, it kind of took [our group] a little bit to figure out what we were going to do offensively. But that unit was full of guys who have been in the league and who know how to play basketball,” said Josh Hart. “It’s huge to have guys who stay ready. It doesn’t matter the situation. That’s exactly why you stay ready.”
When Brunson finally checked back in with 1:37 to go, he wasted no time. Just 20 seconds later, he floated in the decisive basket, silencing the Indiana crowd and ensuring the Knicks would avoid falling into an 0-3 series hole.
“It’s an emotional game, it’s a long game. Things can happen, things can not go your way. You can easily crash out, or you can respond the right way,” Brunson said after the win.
Game 4 is set for Tuesday night in Indianapolis, with New York now riding a new wave of confidence in the series.
