Karl-Anthony Towns Lifts Knicks in Comeback Thriller
Fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse witnessed a wild swing of momentum as the New York Knicks clawed their way out of a daunting 20-point first-half hole against the Indiana Pacers. Game 3 didn’t just hand New York a 2-1 series edge—it might have rattled the Pacers' confidence at exactly the wrong time.
Karl-Anthony Towns refused to let his team fold under pressure. His late third-quarter offensive burst—punctuated by a huge three-pointer in the closing minutes—put the Knicks ahead for good. Towns’ stat line told part of the story: he finished with 15 rebounds to go alongside his scoring punch, cleaning up the glass and forcing Indiana into tough, second-chance situations. The difference in intensity during crunch time was visible. Towns said afterward that this win came down to everyone knowing their role and putting the team first.
Jalen Brunson, nursing foul trouble all night, still found ways to hurt the Pacers. He scored 23 points, managing his aggression while staying on the floor when it mattered most. His patience paid off—Brunson controlled the pace and hit key shots during the late-game run that erased Indiana’s last lead.
Pacers' Crunch-Time Woes and the Indianapolis 500 Curse
The Pacers started hot, with Tyrese Haliburton running the floor and splashing early threes. Myles Turner added muscle inside and scored 19, helping Indiana build a 20-point lead. But the story shifted hard after halftime. New York turned up the defensive heat, throwing traps at Haliburton and making him work for every touch. The Pacers couldn’t respond when it mattered, turning the ball over four times in the final six minutes and watching their offense stall.
For Indiana, this wasn’t just another loss. They’ve now dropped four straight playoff games on Indianapolis 500 race days—a weird stat that’s gnawed at both the team and fans. Two of those losses have come against these very Knicks. The building held its breath late in the fourth as each Pacers' possession got tighter, the energy drifting away with every miss.
As Game 4 approaches, the Pacers face a harsh reality. They’ve lost momentum on their own floor and need to dig deep to even up the series. The crowd will show up—they always do—but players like Haliburton and Turner have to brush off the ghosts of the past and find an answer for Towns and this relentless New York squad. Pressure’s on: a loss puts Indiana on the brink and gives the Knicks a chance to close things out at home.
