Knicks rally past Pacers in Game 3 after Karl-Anthony Towns sparks stunning comeback
Jalen Brunson’s foul trouble and Indiana’s missed opportunities allow New York to cut series deficit to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals.
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| Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers during Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Putri
What seemed like a coronation for the Indiana Pacers turned into a crisis as the New York Knicks, facing a daunting 2-0 series deficit and trailing by 20 points in the second quarter, mounted a dramatic rally to win Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, 106-100. The victory cuts the Pacers’ series lead to 2-1 and breathes new life into New York’s championship hopes. The Knicks rally past Pacers narrative was headlined not by All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson, who was in foul trouble early, but by Karl-Anthony Towns, who exploded in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks to victory.
Early dominance gives Pacers control
The Pacers came into Sunday night’s Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with momentum and home-court energy, riding a 2-0 series lead after taking both games in New York. With 1:36 left in the second quarter, their grip tightened when Brunson picked up his fourth personal foul, prompting visions of a 3-0 series lead and a path to the NBA Finals. At that point, Indiana led 56-40, and Andrew Nembhard’s free throws extended that advantage to 18 points.
It looked like the Knicks were finished. After all, no team in NBA playoff history has come back from a 3-0 deficit — the all-time record stands at 157-0 in favor of teams with such a lead. Indiana appeared poised to join that list.
Knicks keep hanging around
But the Knicks refused to go quietly. New York closed the first half on a small run to cut the deficit to 13 at intermission. The Knicks rally past Pacers started subtly, but it was the third quarter where things took a sharp turn. Despite Brunson’s foul issues, the Pacers didn’t exploit the mismatch. The Knicks hid Brunson on Aaron Nesmith, and Indiana failed to run actions targeting him.
More surprisingly, Indiana took their foot off the gas. They led by 16 points early in the third and had five separate 15-point leads during the quarter. But they never stretched it further. Mikal Bridges scored six straight points midway through the period, and Miles McBride closed it with seven more, bringing the Knicks within 10 heading into the final frame.
Towns takes over in the fourth
With Brunson sidelined intermittently due to foul trouble — he didn’t pick up his fifth foul until 7:03 remained and returned in the final minutes — it was Towns who emerged as the hero. He scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, bullying Indiana’s frontcourt and hitting timely buckets. The defining moment came with 1:17 left when Brunson, back on the court, hit a floater to give New York a 100-98 lead it would not relinquish.
The Pacers, who scored just 42 points in the second half and 100 overall — their lowest total since February 4 — watched their commanding position unravel. For comparison, they had averaged 119.5 points in the first two games of the series.
Rick Carlisle laments loss of composure
Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle noted his team’s breakdown under pressure. “When we started building a lead and the crowd got into it, things got a little crazy,” Carlisle admitted. “We had some back-and-forth, kind of nutty plays, with some turnovers and stuff like that. So much of playoff basketball is doing the basics really well. And in those instances, being able to keep a level of poise, along with aggression. We didn’t do well enough in that area.”
Tyrese Haliburton echoed that sentiment. “It felt like the game was just, like, stuck there,” he said. “Every time we scored, they scored. Every time we didn’t, we got a stop. We never were able to really pull away.”
Turnovers, poor shot selection, and failure to adjust were costly. Indiana had eight of its 12 turnovers in the second half and rarely challenged Brunson defensively, even as he was clearly vulnerable with foul trouble.
Missed opportunity on Brunson
The Pacers' decision not to attack Brunson was puzzling. The 6-foot-1 guard was hidden defensively and never tested. Indiana didn’t use Nesmith to post him up, nor did they run pick-and-rolls to force Brunson into difficult decisions. That passivity allowed the Knicks to keep their floor general in the game, minimizing the impact of his fouls.
Brunson’s fifth foul came with just over seven minutes left, and while he sat briefly, he was fresh enough to close the game and hit the decisive shot. “I don’t think we’re trying to focus too much on just attacking him,” Nembhard said. “We’re trying to play our game, and wherever he’s at, he’s at.”
Nesmith injury limits Pacers
Further complicating matters for Indiana was a third-quarter ankle injury to Aaron Nesmith. A breakout performer in the first two games, Nesmith had been 13-of-20 overall and 10-of-12 from deep. But in Game 3, he struggled before the injury, going just 2-of-8. Though he returned in the fourth, he failed to make an impact and didn’t score. His availability for Game 4 remains uncertain, with the next contest looming Tuesday night on just one day’s rest.
Familiar territory for Indiana
The Pacers find themselves in a position that feels uncomfortably familiar. In both of their previous playoff series this postseason, they returned home after winning the first two games on the road — only to lose Game 3 in Indianapolis. Against the Bucks and Cavaliers, Indiana rebounded to win Game 4 and close each series in five games. That history offers hope, but this Knicks team, re-energized after the Knicks rally past Pacers story unfolded Sunday, may prove a tougher out.
“A hundred points? That’s not us,” Haliburton said. “It better not be Tuesday night.”
Game 4 will be pivotal. A win restores Indiana’s control. A loss hands the Knicks home-court advantage again and evens the series — transforming it from a near-sweep into a tense, best-of-three showdown.
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