The Indiana Pacers had a chance to take a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Sunday night. In the first half, it looked like they would do just that.
At one point, the Pacers led the Knicks by 20 points. They led by 13 points at halftime and had a 16-point third-quarter lead. Entering the fourth quarter, they were up 10.
Unfortunately for Indiana, the team fell apart in the fourth quarter and ended up losing to New York by a final score of 106-100. The Pacers have officially let the Knicks back into the series.
Losing in that fashion was a crushing blow for Indiana. A win would have placed them just one win away from a berth in the NBA Finals. Now, they face a critical Game 4 on Tuesday night with New York having a chance to take back home-court advantage.
Read more:Knicks' Jalen Brunson Shares Strong 5-Word Reaction After Game 3 Win
Another disappointing fact of the Game 3 loss was the Pacers blowing their Game 1 magical win, where the Knicks collapsed and let Indiana steal a game. Haliburton and company are one lucky game away from being down 2-1 in the series.
Following the Game 3 loss, one Pacers legend spoke out with criticism for Haliburton for his performance in the losing effort. That legend was Jermaine O'Neal.
"He made a shot or two, but I think, for the most part, the energy was low. And they didn't compete when the Knicks did in the fourth," O'Neal said.
Throughout the course of the game, Haliburton scored 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting and made just two of his eight three-point attempts. He dished out seven assists, grabbed four rebounds, and recorded three steals as well.
Read more:Celtics' Jaylen Brown Speaks Out Strongly Amid Trade Rumors
While Haliburton did not play a "bad" game, he was unable to make the necessary impact in the second half and fourth quarter when Indiana needed him the most.
As a team, the Pacers shot just 5-for-25 from the three-point line. They do not usually shoot that poorly, which gives hope for a turnaround in Game 4. If Indiana can bounce back strong and take Tuesday's game, it can put itself right back in the driver's seat in the series.
All of that being said, Game 4 is crucial for both teams. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.
For more Indiana Pacers and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
Tyrese Haliburton's Dad Has NBA Ban Lifted for Pacers-Knicks Game 4
Knicks' Jalen Brunson Shares Strong 5-Word Reaction After Game 3 Win
How to Watch Knicks vs Pacers: Live Stream Eastern Conference Finals Game 3, TV Channel
Knicks-Pacers Finalize Game 3 Injury Report
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 10:53 AM.