A powerful late-game surge by Karl-Anthony Towns propelled the New York Knicks to their first victory of the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.
Karl-Anthony Towns dominated in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 of his total 24 points and securing a game-high 15 rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a vital 106-100 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Indianapolis.
This remarkable quarter marked just the second occasion in franchise history where a Knicks player has scored 20 or more points in a playoff quarter. Jalen Brunson had previously set the record with 21 points during Game 1 of last season’s conference semifinals against the Pacers.
“When the opportunity arose in the fourth quarter, I knew I had to capitalize,” Towns shared after the game. “I aimed to give our team a fighting chance. I’m thrilled to have been able to deliver.”
Towns ignited an impressive 15-point streak in just the first 3:58 of the fourth, allowing New York to take an 87-85 lead. His offensive prowess proved essential for the Knicks’ victory.
“KAT is a remarkable scorer,” stated New York coach Tom Thibodeau, noting that Towns played less than 28 minutes in the previous Game 2 loss. “He’s versatile and excels from three-point range, driving to the basket, and back-to-the-basket plays. His aggressiveness is vital for our success.”
The Knicks will aim to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2 on Tuesday night in Indianapolis. “This series is unpredictable,” Brunson remarked. “Clearly, no lead is safe. Both teams will battle until the final buzzer.”
Brunson finished with 23 points, despite hitting only 6 of his 18 shots, but he did sink all 10 of his free throw attempts. The Knicks staged a remarkable comeback after trailing by 20 points in the second quarter. OG Anunoby contributed 16 points, while Mikal Bridges added 15 for the third-seeded Knicks.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, and Myles Turner scored 19 for Indiana, who had started the series with two victories on the road. Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell added 17 and 12 points, respectively, for the Pacers, who only managed 42 points in the second half.
“We didn’t maintain our pace,” Haliburton admitted. “I feel I sat back during the fourth quarter, and a 42-point half is not what we’re about.”
Knicks’ Late Surge
The Knicks’ turnaround mirrored their performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they overcame 20-point deficits in the initial games against Boston to ultimately claim the series.
Although Indiana maintained the lead for most of the game, it required free throws from Turner and Siakam to equalize at 98 with 1:37 left in the contest. Brunson quickly answered, putting New York back in front with a runner just 20 seconds later.
Josh Hart extended the Knicks’ lead with a pair of free throws with 19.6 seconds remaining. Haliburton responded for Indiana with two free throws of his own, closing the gap to 102-100 with 9.7 seconds left. However, Brunson sealed the deal with two free throws, putting the Knicks up by four points with just 8.1 seconds on the clock. Hart then added two final free throws for New York with only 2.6 seconds left.
The Knicks had fallen behind by as much as 15 late in the third and were down 80-70 entering the fourth when Towns ignited the comeback.
A key three-point play by Towns put the Knicks ahead at 87-85 for the first time since the opening quarter at the 8:02 mark of the fourth. He then solidified his scoring with a daring 30-foot, step-back three-pointer while heavily guarded, giving New York a 94-90 lead with 5:10 to go.
The Knicks shot 43.6% from the field and were 11 of 32 from beyond the arc, whereas Indiana managed 44.2% overall but struggled from three-point range with a dismal 5-of-25 performance. They excelled in transition, earning a significant 16-2 advantage in fast-break points, yet succumbed to the Knicks in the final quarter, getting outscored 36-20.
“He made pivotal plays,” Siakam commented on Towns. “We weren’t able to get the stops when it mattered most, and our offense lacked its usual rhythm and ball movement.”
Indiana began strong, leading 58-45 at halftime, after launching a 13-point unanswered streak in the second quarter. Haliburton capped this surge with a three-pointer followed by a steal leading to an easy dunk, pushing their advantage to 55-35 with 3:20 remaining in the half.
