The Indiana Pacers appeared to have the New York Knicks in deep trouble in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Yet there was a major problem with the Pacers taking a 20-point home lead and the ensuing belief they were en route to taking a 3-0 series lead.
That’s because the Knicks are highly comfortable when they trail by a large margin. For the third time this postseason, New York battled back from 20 down on the road to win the game. The latest impressive comeback places them in position to tie the series at 2-2 when the teams play Game 4 on Tuesday night at Indianapolis.
New York’s 106-100 comeback victory was reminiscent of the Eastern Conference semifinals when the Knicks rallied from 20-point deficits in each of the first two games in Boston to earn victories en route to eventually winning the series in six games.
“We saw that we were on the brink of it looking pretty dark for us,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson said Monday. “And the way we responded, I think it brings us closer together.”
It certainly tightened up the best-of-seven series as New York outscored the Pacers 36-20 over the final 12 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to join Brunson as the only players in franchise history to tally 20 or more in one quarter during a playoff game. Brunson’s record of 21 in a quarter came against the Pacers in Game 1 of last season’s conference semifinals.
“The game wasn’t looking great for me or all of us,” said Towns, who also collected 15 rebounds. “I just wanted to do what it takes to put us in a position to win. It’s a testament to my teammates to have trust in me and putting me in spots where I can succeed and utilize my talents.”
Veteran New York coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t surprised his club has registered three epic comeback wins over the past two series.
“In playoff basketball, no lead is safe,” Thibodeau said. “I think with the 3-point shot, people make up ground quickly. With the pace of the game, people make up ground quickly. You see comebacks all the time. If you let up just a little bit, that’s what happens.”
Indiana is hoping to get positive news regarding forward Aaron Nesmith after he sprained his right ankle midway through the third quarter of Game 3. Nesmith is listed as questionable and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle termed Nesmith as a game-time decision on Monday.
Nesmith returned to the floor with 7:03 left in the game and was hindered down the stretch. He missed both shots he took and finished with eight points.
“I got the word that he was good to go back in, that he was moving without limitation at that point in time, and so rather than wait, I decided the best thing to do was get him back in there so it didn’t stiffen up any more,” Carlisle explained.
Nesmith started this series with career-best 8 of 9 shooting from 3-range to go with 30 points in Indiana’s 138-135 overtime victory in Game 1.
Indiana star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will be looking for a better effort after pointing the finger at himself for the team’s poor Game 3 second-half showing of 42 points.
“I didn’t do a good job getting downhill and making plays,” Haliburton said. “I’ve got to do a better job there. … Execution down the stretch, we definitely can be better, and that starts with me.”
Haliburton is averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 assists in the series.
Brunson had just 23 points in Game 3 but is averaging 34 in the series.
Towns and New York teammate Josh Hart both sustained knee injuries in Game 3 and are expected to be available.
–Field Level Media
