The New York Knicks are still alive.
The Knicks erased a 20-point, second-quarter deficit, chipping away in the second half, and scraped past the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, 106-100.
New York rode a massive fourth quarter from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 20 of his 24 points in the final period. Towns had shot just 2-of-8 through the first three quarters, scoring just four points in that span, but was far more aggressive in the fourth attacking the paint and getting to the line.
The Knicks will now look to even the series Tuesday in Game 4 (8 p.m. ET, TNT), as the road team now has won each of the three games in this series.
Going back to the end of the second quarter, New York closed that and each of the subsequent periods on a run. And in each case, the outbursts were sparked on defense. The Knicks had struggled all series long with their defensive effort and intensity, at times losing Pacers in transition and watching as their teammates got beat off the ball.
In the second half, however, the Knicks swarmed the ball and generated turnovers, slowing the Pacers. It also led to a quicker, more assertive offense from New York.
Indiana’s offense, as a result, struggled to find consistency in the third and fourth quarters, going several minutes without field goals.
Towns led the Knicks with 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson poured in another 23.
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, while Indiana center Myles Turner added 19 points.
See all the highlights from USA TODAY Sports from the Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3:
Knicks vs. Pacers highlights
Final: Knicks 106, Pacers 100
Karl-Anthony Towns’ 24-point performance – 20 of which came in the fourth quarter – helped spark the Knicks to a must-have win in Game 3.
Aaron Nesmith back in game after ankle sprain
Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith, who went to the locker room with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter, returned with less than 7 minutes remaining in the fourth after the Knicks had tightened the score.
Q3: Pacers 80, Knicks 70
The Pacers produced a 6-0 scoring run to maintain a 68-52 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
The Knicks produced a scoring run of their own, outscoring the Pacers with a 7-2 run to end the quarter.
Tyrese Haliburton has 13 points and six assists through the first three quarters. Myles Turner scored 15 points and T.J. McConnell added 12 points off the bench.
Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 17 points despite shooting 4-for-14 from the field. He has made all eight of his free throw attempts, but is playing with four fouls. OG Anunoby has scored 16 points.
The Pacers are 6-0 during this postseason run when leading at the end of the third quarter.
Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith sprains right ankle, questionable to return
Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith went back to the locker room after suffering a right ankle sprain during the third quarter. He is considered questionable to return, according to TNT.
Halftime: Pacers 58, Knicks 45
The New York Knicks are on the brink.
Already down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks sputtered in the second quarter of Game 3 and now face a 13-point deficit at the break, 58-45.
The Pacers exploded late in the quarter with a 13-0 run sparked by their defense, while Indiana’s offense is getting contributions from everywhere; each of the 10 Pacers who have entered the game have scored. But the second quarter run was led by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has nine points and four assists at the half.
New York would respond to close the half, going on an 8-2 run to end the second quarter just minutes after Indiana had opened its biggest lead of the game, at 20 points.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns struggled in the first half, both with his shot selection and with his discipline. Towns picked up a careless foul with three seconds left in the first quarter and then was whistled for two more in the following 5:50 of the second quarter — three fouls in a span of fewer than six minutes. Towns has just four points on 2-of-7 shooting.
He isn’t the only player in foul trouble. More precarious for New York is that Jalen Brunson, the team’s unquestioned leader and top offensive threat, picked up his fourth foul late in the half.
Brunson leads all Knicks scorers with 11 points on just 2-of-9 shooting, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have chipped in seven points and 10 points, respectively.
Q1: Pacers 30, Knicks 26
The Knicks started the quarter fast, taking an 11-6 lead, their largest of the first quarter, before giving it away. They trail, 30-26.
Indiana went on a 10-4 run to take its first lead of the game after Ben Sheppard made a 3-point shot off an assist from Tyrese Haliburton.
Myles Turner scored five points after shooting 2-for-3 from the field. Haliburton had four points, two assists and two rebounds.
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.
What time is Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks?
Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks is set to start at 8 p.m. ET, on Sunday May 25.
How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks: TV, stream
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
TV: TNT, truTV
Stream: Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV, Max
Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game 3 on Fubo
Knicks starting five for Game 3
Knicks change up starting lineup for Game 3
The New York Knicks, down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference finals, are making a change to their starting lineup.
Center Mitchell Robinson will be on the floor for tipoff, replacing forward Josh Hart, who has struggled in the series.
Hart, who scored just six points on 2-of-3 shooting Friday night in New York’s 114-109 loss, had started all 77 regular-season games he appeared in this season, as well as the team’s 14 postseason games. Known for being a high-energy player who excels on the glass and pushes the ball up the floor, Hart had been finding it difficult to make an impact against the Pacers.
Robinson has been a steady spark off the bench for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, particularly on offensive rebounding and defensive rotations.
Pacers starting five for Game 3
Indy 500 winner Alex Palou attends Knicks vs. Pacers Game 3
Alex Palou, who wore a Tyrese Haliburton jersey during the Indy 500 parade through downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, and his team planned for a possible Game 3 trip.
The Indy 500 winner greeted the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, wearing the winner’s ring and wreath, during the second quarter. His attendance came just hours after becoming the first Spaniard to win the legendary race held in Indianapolis since 1911.
Alex Palou becomes first Spaniard to win Indy 500
Alex Palou finally got the one piece missing from his IndyCar resume: an Indianapolis 500 victory.
The three-time IndyCar Series champion passed Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining and held off the 2022 Indy 500 winner and 2023 runner-up to win the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ under caution as Nolan Siegel before the leaders took the checkered flag.
Palou, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, became the first Spaniard to win the legendary race that dates back to 1911.
“I cannot believe it. It’s amazing to be here. It’s amazing to win,” an overwhelmed Palou said after climbing from his car. “First oval win. What better place.” ‒ Ellen J. Horrow
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks predictions: Expert picks for Game 3
ESPN: Pacers have a 59/6% chance of winning
According to ESPN’s Matchup predictor, the Indiana Pacers have a 59.6% chance of beating the New York Knicks in Game 3.
Fox Sports: Pacers 116 – Knicks 113
Staff writes: ‘The Pacers have covered the spread in the same percentage of games at home as away games (46.3%). They have covered 19 times in 41 games at home and 19 times in 41 games on the road. At home, Indiana exceeds the over/under 53.7% of the time (22 of 41 games). It hits the over in the same percentage of road games (22 of 41 contests).’
Bleacher Nation: Pacers 116 – Knicks 113
Staff writes: ‘ The Pacers average 117.4 points per game (seventh in the league) while allowing 115.1 per outing (17th in the NBA). They have a +183 scoring differential overall and outscore opponents by 2.3 points per game. The Pacers pull down 41.8 rebounds per game (27th in the league) while allowing 45.0 per outing to their opponents. They are outrebounded by 3.2 boards per game.’
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 3 odds
The Indiana Pacers are favored to win Game 3, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Saturday, May 24.
Spread: Pacers (-2)
Moneyline: Pacers (-130), Knicks (+110)
Over/under: 224
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Eastern Conference finals schedule
Pacers lead series 2-0
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.*