Down 20 points with 3 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the Knicks battled back and unleashed Karl-Anthony Towns and secret weapon Landry Shamet in the 3rd quarter to take game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 106-100.
The Knicks’ backs were against the wall — a loss would put them down 3-0 in the series; instead they are now down 2 games to 1.
The Knicks climbed to within 10 pts to start the 4th quarter on a 7-pt flurry by Miles McBride at the end of the 3rd — and used DEFENSE to the end, with McBride at the point and Jalen Brunson on the bench. In the final 2 minutes it was Jalen Brunson back in — and making the big bucket to put NY up by 2, then making 2 Clutch free throws to ice the game with 8 seconds left. In between Josh Hart ripped down an amazing, game-winning rebound — and made 2 Clutch free throws to keep NY up 4 with 19 seconds left.
Hart who did not start the game — in fact suggested to coach Tom Thibodeau that he was fine coming off the bench with Mitchell Robinson starting. Hart played 34 minutes of gutty basketball, with 10 rebounds.
But the biggest hero was Big Bodega KAT, who pummeled the Pacers inside for 20 pts in the 4th quarter (24 pts overall). And Landry Shamet who came off the bench in the 2nd to inject the Knicks with energy, Defense, and 3-pt shooting — finishing with a game-high +12 in 11 minutes. And McBride — who played stellar defense, ran the point for 15 minutes, and hit big shots.
1. NY Takes 15-10 Lead, But Indy Still Leads After 1
The Knicks came out with their backs to the wall, down 2-0 in the series after the horrific game 1 loss where they had the 14-pt lead with 3 minutes left, and the game 2 loss where they did not get it done in the 4th.
NY jumped out to a 15-10 lead.
OG ANUNOBY DRILLS THE TRIPLE 👌
Knicks lead early in the 1Q of Game 3 on TNT! pic.twitter.com/tNuVK05UQx
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
But Indiana again had an answer, playing D and 3 ball. Myles Turner and Ben Sheppard hit 3’s and by the end of the 1st, Indiana was back on top 30-26.
2. Refs Call It Tight and Let ’em Play
The Knicks were also getting bit by ref calls. The refs were calling it tight — and Miles McBride picked up 3 quick fouls at the end of the 1st quarter.
This continued to frustrate the Knicks all night — especially KAT, who was getting hammered on drives inside but no call — yet the refs would call ticky-tack off-ball calls.
With McBride in foul trouble, Thibs reached for mid-season acquisition Delon Wright — a tremendous defensive point guard who played so well for NY when Brunson was out with the ankle injury at the end of the regular season.
Wright came in with 3:29 left in the 1st quarter, and a minute later stole the ball from TJ McConnell.
3. Shamet Enters to Start 2nd
With NY down 30-26, Thibs brought in Landry Shamet to start the 2nd quarter. It was Shamet’s first appearance in this series, and he hadn’t played against Boston either — after energizing the Knicks against Detroit.
Shamet immediately gave the Knicks a lift with defensive intensity — and after air-balling his first 3, hit a 3 with 7:30 left in the 2nd quarter to pull NY within 7.
4. McConnell Kills Knicks; Indy Goes Up by 20
But TJ McConnell was KILLING the Knicks, pushing the tempo, penetrating, passing, and hitting short jumpers against NY’s drop defense.
T.J. with a TOUGH turnaround jumper 😤#NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google on TNT pic.twitter.com/S2KJbCBF0C
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Pascal Siakam was scoring inside and out, Myles Turner the same thing, Aaron Nesmith got a bucket, Obi Toppin was scoring inside on a drive and a dunk, and Tyrese Haliburton was dancing and prancing as Indiana pulled out to a 20-pt lead at 55-35 with 3:20 left in the half.
TYRESE IS FIRED UP AFTER HIS STEAL & SLAM 😤
📺 East Finals Game 3 on TNT pic.twitter.com/jG6zGJ4dYY
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
All looked lost for NY.
5. OG, Hart, Bridges Pull NY to Within 13 at Half
But the Knicks pulled up their britches and finished the quarter well.
Mitchell Robinson fed OG for a dunk and NY was down 18.
OG hit a 3 and NY was down 16.
Josh Hart hit a J, and then Mikal Bridges hit a 3 off a Shamet pass with 5 seconds left and NY was down 13 at the half.
6. Bridges Carries NY but Indiana Up 15 Late in 3rd
Pascal Siakam put Indiana back up 15 to start the 3rd, but Brunson free throws and an OG 3 pulled NY to within 10.
But Indiana kept coming — a Nesmith 3 put them back up by 16 with 8 minutes left in the quarter.
Mikal Bridges took over the offense for NY — keeping them at pace with the Pacers.
An Obi Toppin Dunk was followed by a Bridges J was followed by a Haliburton was followed by a Brunson dunk was followed by a McConnell pullup and Indiana was still up 15 with 3:11 left. NY could not get stops or traction.
7. Shamet & McBride Pull NY to Within 10 After 3
And then Landry Shamet entered the game with 2:13 left, for Mikal Bridges. Shamet took on Obi Toppin.
McBride hit a pullup, then Shamet played TOUGH D on Obi posting him up — the 2 going at each other mano-a-mano — and Shamet drawing an offensive foul.
Obi was sent to the bench and had choice words for Shamet as he left the floor.
McBride then drew a foul on McConnell and made both free throws.
Mitchell Robinson BLOCKED McConnell’s drive, and McBride hit a 3 and the Knicks were within 78-70.
Miles McBride brings New York within 8!
3Q winding down on TNT 👀 pic.twitter.com/OQ4NFur04X
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Here came the Knicks, said the analyst on the broadcast.
Myles Turner broke free for a dunk to end the 3rd, but NY was within reach — down by 10 pts.
8. KAT Dominates 4th
And then came the 4th quarter, and Mr. Karl-Anthony Towns took over. He hit a 3, then started driving relentlessly to the rim, scoring with his amazingly efficient drives, then hitting 3’s again for an unstoppable inside-outside game.
He started the period with a 3, then drove inside to make it a 7-pt game.
KAT fed Delon Wright for a drive and NY was down 5.
KAT DOING EVERYTHING FOR NEW YORK RIGHT NOW!
Scores 2 with a tough move inside.
Finds Wright under the basket.
5-point game as the 4Q is underway on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/97NbtB0gJn
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
The Knicks DEFENDED — causing Indiana misses.
KAT made free throws off a drive, then hit a 3 off an OG assist and it was 85-84 Indiana.
KARL-ANTHONY. TOWNS. AGAIN 🤯
IT’S NOW ONLY A 3-POINT GAME!!!
📺 East Finals G3 on TNT pic.twitter.com/wzSBpGozTQ
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Next time down he dunked inside off a Bridges feed — and was fouled for a 3-pt play and NY was up 87-85 with 8:02 left.
OH MY GOODNESS KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/UoBuMVBLly
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Indiana fought back — Haliburton hit a 3; Brunson countered with a deuce; Siakam countered that with a deuce — the lead going back and forth.
NY pulled Brunson for McBride and defense with 7 minutes left and NY up 89-88.
Towns made 2 free throws off a drive, then hit a 3 and NY was up 94-90 with 5 minutes left.
KAT HAS 20 POINTS JUST IN THE 4Q 😤
Knicks lead midway through the last frame!
📺 TNT pic.twitter.com/rAPA50NgR4
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
Indiana again came back — scores by Haliburton and Siakam were countered by free throws off drives by Bridges and McBride.
But Indiana was getting the benefit of calls — Myles Turner ran into KAT going to the rim off ball but the foul was called on KAT — giving Turner 2 free throws. Next time down Siakam was pushed by OG and went the line for 2 more free throws. Tie game at 98-98 with 1:37 left.
9. Brunson & Hart Clutch at End
And that’s when Jalen Brunson returned and immediately hit a floater to put NY back up 100-98 with 1:17 left.
CAPTAIN CLUTCH COMING THROUGH FOR THE KNICKS!
📺 ECF Game 3 on TNT pic.twitter.com/oQVq2EZUDb
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2025
The Knicks defended, forcing a Nesmith miss of a J. But Nesmith blocked Brunson’s drive down the other end, NY with the offensive rebound, but Brunson missing a desperation shot as the 24-second shot ran out.
The Knicks defended — and Myles Turner missed a 3 with 22 seconds left — Josh Hart ripping down the HUGE rebound, getting fouled by Nesmith and coming down on his knee.
Hart made both CLUTCH free throws to put NY up 102-98 with 19 seconds left.
The Knicks defended — but Bridges was called on a touch foul of Haliburton that had even Knick hater Stan Van Gundy in disbelief on the national broadcast.
Haliburton made both free throws for a 102-100 game with 9 seconds left — and Indiana fouled Brunson with 8 seconds left to stop the clock.
Brunson made both CLUTCH free throws to put NY up 104-100 and out of a timeout, Pascal Siakam missed a 3 with 5 seconds left and NY had their win.
Indiana was forced to foul and Hart made 2 free throws with 2 seconds left for the final score.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401772991