Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dunks on Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
INDIANAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter Sunday, and Jalen Brunson added 23 points as the New York Knicks rallied from 20 points down to beat the Indiana Pacers 106-100 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Towns also had 15 rebounds as the Knicks cut the series deficit to 2-1 despite having Towns and Brunson in foul trouble most of the night. Game 4 will be played Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
READ: NBA: Pacers near first NBA Finals since 2000, host Knicks for Game 3
KNICKS COMPLETE THE 20-POINT COMEBACK AND WIN GAME 3 ON THE ROAD 🗽 pic.twitter.com/Exqf9sWCbn
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points and six assists. Myles Turner added 19 points as Indiana dropped to 0-4 all-time playing on the same day the Indianapolis 500 was held.
Team officials handed out gold-and-blue T-shirts with the words “Vroom Baby” to celebrate the rare Pacers and racers doubleheader after Spain’s Alex Palou kissed the bricks.
Palou received a rousing standing ovation during the second quarter — just as Indiana started pulling away to a 55-35 lead with 3:20 remaining in the half in front of six players from Indiana’s 2000 Eastern Conference champs including Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.
READ: NBA: Pacers beat Knicks again, head home with 2-0 series lead
However, the Pacers failed to put this one away after holding a 68-52 lead early in the third quarter.
New York charged back, cutting the deficit to 80-70 after three. Then behind the strength of Towns and the nimbleness of Brunson, New York finally retook an 89-88 lead on Brunson’s basket with 7:10 to play.
The Knicks never led by more than four until the final free throws with 2.6 seconds left.