Knicks Stay Alive in Eastern Conference Finals with 106-100 Win over Pacers
The New York Knicks have kept their NBA playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 106-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. According to a report by USA Today, the Knicks erased a 20-point, second-quarter deficit, chipping away in the second half, to scrape past the Pacers on Sunday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 24 points and 15 rebounds, scoring 20 of his points in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson added 23 points to the Knicks’ tally. The Knicks will now look to even the series in Game 4 on Tuesday, as the road team has won each of the three games in this series so far.
The Knicks’ defensive effort and intensity were key to their comeback, with Towns and Brunson leading the charge. As noted by USA Today, the Knicks swarmed the ball and generated turnovers, slowing down the Pacers’ offence and leading to a quicker, more assertive offence for New York.
The Pacers’ offence struggled to find consistency in the third and fourth quarters, going several minutes without field goals. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, while centre Myles Turner added 19 points.
In a significant development, Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith returned to the game in the fourth quarter after suffering a sprained right ankle in the third quarter. His return boosted the Pacers’ chances, but ultimately, the Knicks’ momentum proved too much.
As reported by USA Today, the Knicks started the game on a high note, taking an 11-6 lead, their largest of the first quarter. However, the Pacers went on a 10-4 run to take their first lead of the game after Ben Sheppard made a 3-point shot off an assist from Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers’ bench contributed 13 points, while the Knicks’ reserves nearly went scoreless before Josh Hart added two points late. Jalen Brunson scored 11 points for the Knicks after shooting 2-of-6 from the field.
Game 4 Looms Large for Both Teams
The Knicks and Pacers are set to face off again in Game 4 on Tuesday, with the series currently favouring the Pacers 2-1. According to USA Today, the Pacers have a 59.6% chance of winning Game 3, based on ESPN’s Matchup predictor.
Fox Sports predicts a high-scoring game, with the Pacers winning 116-113. Bleacher Nation also forecasts a Pacers win, 116-113, citing the Pacers’ strong offence and rebounding.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 3 Odds
The Indiana Pacers were favoured to win Game 3, according to BetMGM. The odds as of Saturday, May 24, were:
- Spread: Pacers (-2)
- Moneyline: Pacers (-130), Knicks (+110)
- Over/under: 224
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
The series schedule is as follows:
- Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 (OT)
- Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109
- Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100
- Game 4, May 27: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 5, May 29: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, 8 p.m.
- Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, 8 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, 8 p.m.*
The information used in this article is sourced from USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/playoffs/2025/05/25/pacers-knicks-results-updates-highlights-nba-playoffs/83838344007/.
