Karl-Anthony Towns, New-Look Knicks Race Past Pacers in Game 3

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns played the fourth quarter this time around and made sure everyone knew about it.

Towns' redemption headlined the Knicks' latest latest postseason comeback, as a fantastic fourth paved the way to a 106-100 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night. The win narrows Indiana's lead in the best-of-seven set to 2-1 and guarantees at least one more Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

Kept on the bench for a crucial fourth quarter stretch in the prior game, Towns scored all but four of his 24 tallies in the fourth quarter in the Memorial Day weekend thriller as the Knicks once again erased a 20-point deficit en route to victory.

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) drives to the hoop past New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

A new version of the Knicks took the floor on Sunday as Mitchell Robinson sat in the starting five in place of Josh Hart. Despite his de facto demotion, Hart proved to be no less dangerous in relief, pulling in five boards and sinking four vital free throws on as many attempts in the final frame while standing as a plus-16 on the scoreboard while he was on the floor.

Robinson, earner of six points and six boards in his first start since the end of the 2023 conference semifinals, wasn't the only promoted name in the Knicks' regular rotation. Landry Shamet and Delon Wright were also called upon at several points to play crucial minutes after they were mostly relegated to mop-up duty in the earlier rounds.

Though they still lost the bench scoring battle (as Indiana enjoyed a dozen from TJ McConnell), the pair, as well as Miles McBride, came up big, especially with Jalen Brunson trapped on the bench in the fourth quarter due to foul trouble. McBride had nine points in relief while Shamet was a team-best plus-12 in just over 11 minutes.

The night, however, belonged to Towns, who guided the Knicks through yet another 20-point comeback, their third this postseason after earning two over Boston in the conference semifinal. They're the first team to win three separate playoff that saw them trailing by at least 20 in one session since play-by-play stats were first recorded in 1997.

With the 20-point disadvantage sliced in half by the end of the third period, Towns played a role in each of first 16 Knick points of the final period, scoring 14 on his own before the seven-minute mark while assisting on a double for Wright.

That held the fort down and the first of five fourth quarter lead changes came when Towns capitalized on a successful three-point play. A Tyrese Haliburton three immediately gave Indiana the lead back but a Brunson floater kept the metropolitan momentum rolling. However, Brunson was immediately forced back to the bench as his fateful fifth foul came on the very next defensive possession and was enforced despite a review.

But Towns was undeterred: Pascal Siakam gave the Pacers the lead back (hitting a two despite missing the ensuing free throw), but the previously-exiled Towns gave New York the lead back for good on foul shots and a three-pointer. With both teams in the bonus, the Knicks handled business at the charity stripe, going a near-perfect 15-of-16 in the fourth, including each of their final 14.

Knicks Pacers — May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) battle for control of the ball during the fourth quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Indiana's loss spoiled a thrilling sports day at the Crossroads of the America, which saw Alex Palou win the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 hours prior. Palou was in attendance was one of over 17,000 witnesses to the Knicks' comeback. Having shot 50 percent through the first three periods, the Pacers shot just 5-of-19 in the fourth.

Haliburton paced Indiana with 20 points in defeat but was 2-of-8 from three-point range. He was, however, the only Pacer to hit more than one from deep, as Indiana was only 5-of-25 with an extra point on the line.

The Knicks have a chance to knot the series at two apiece on Tuesday when the latter half of the Indiana doubleheader is staged at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (8 p.m. ET, TNT).

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