INDIANAPOLIS — The New York Knicks’ season teetered on the edge as they headed into the final quarter of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night.
For the first three quarters, the Indiana Pacers, riding high with a 2-0 series lead, seemed to shrug off the Knicks’ lineup shakeup. The Pacers aggressively targeted All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson, drawing four fouls and holding him to a lackluster 4-for-14 shooting night. The energized home crowd reveled in a commanding double-digit lead, which swelled to 20 points in the first half.
But everything shifted when Karl-Anthony Towns, who had endured sharp criticism after Game 2 and struggled through the first three quarters Sunday, exploded in the fourth. He poured in 20 points — precisely matching Indiana’s total in that period — propelling New York back into contention. Brunson then sealed the deal, sinking a crucial 12-foot floater with 1:17 left, putting the Knicks ahead for good in a hard-fought 106-100 victory.
By clawing back from a 20-point deficit, the Knicks escaped the perilous 3-0 hole, a deficit no NBA team has ever overcome in a best-of-seven series. The series now shifts to Game 4 on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who has now overseen three postseason wins where his team rallied from at least 20 points down, offered his trademark perspective: “I know you guys roll your eyes when I say no lead is safe, but no lead is safe.” The Knicks had similarly erased a 14-point deficit earlier this postseason against the reigning champion Boston Celtics.
Given the circumstances, skepticism about New York’s comeback was understandable. Thibodeau’s decision to switch the starting lineup — inserting backup center Mitchell Robinson in place of wing Josh Hart — altered the rotation’s dynamic, particularly after guard Miles McBride picked up three fouls and Brunson four in the first half.
Towns also faced early foul trouble, managing just 4 points through three quarters.
As the Knicks fell behind and frustration mounted, Thibodeau leaned on lesser-known role players like guards Delon Wright and Landry Shamet to stabilize the team.
“At first, it took us a bit to figure out what we were doing offensively,” Hart said of the rotation shift. “But that unit was full of experienced guys who know how to play basketball. It’s huge to have players who stay ready no matter the situation. That’s exactly why you stay ready.”
Defensively, the guards clamped down on what had been a sizzling Pacers offense to start the fourth quarter. Offensively, Towns took control, igniting the comeback with a 27-foot three-pointer, followed immediately by a layup. He then snatched a defensive rebound and fired a long outlet pass to Wright, who finished with a lay-in.
Over the first four minutes of the final period, Towns was directly involved in the Knicks’ first 17 points, either scoring or assisting.
“The game wasn’t going well for me,” Towns admitted. “But for all of us, I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help put us in a position to win.” He finished with a game-high 24 points, shooting 6-of-9 and hauling in 8 rebounds in the final quarter alone.
With Towns dominating and Brunson limited by five fouls, Thibodeau kept his star guard on the bench until just 1:37 remained. Brunson returned shortly after and, in a pivotal moment 20 seconds later, knocked down the go-ahead basket.
“It’s an emotional game, it’s a long game,” Brunson reflected. “Things don’t always go your way, and you can easily crash out. But you can also respond the right way.”
This gritty response from the Knicks not only kept their season alive but sent a clear message: no lead is safe when this team is fighting.
