New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and teammates celebrate after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Karl-Anthony Towns and teammates finally had something to celebrate in their series with the Pacers.Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter Sunday, and Jalen Brunson added 23 as the Knicks rallied from 20 points down to beat the 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.
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 as the Indianapolis 500.
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.
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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.
However, the Pacers failed to put this one away after holding a 68-52 lead early in the third. 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.
Nesmith injured
The Pacers lost their top defender, Aaron Nesmith, with a sprained right ankle midway through the third quarter. Nesmith landed awkwardly when he jumped to throw a pass into the corner that sailed high and wound up in the seats.
After play stopped, Nesmith remained down briefly before his teammates helped him up and then motioned for the trainers help. Nesmith struggled to put weight on the leg, needed assistance to leave the court, and went straight to the locker room.
He had been Indiana’s primary defender on Brunson.