The New York Knicks will look to keep their season alive on Thursday as they will host the Indiana Pacers.
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The Knicks will look to win their second game of the series, but they may have to do it without their star big man, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns' lands on the injury report prior to Game 5 due to a knee issue.
The five-time All-Star suffered the knee injury late in Game 4, and it clearly hampered his play. Towns collided with Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith.
After game 4, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said Towns going back in the game was an encouraging sign.
"He was able to go back in, so that's a good sign. We'll see where he is after he gets evaluated," said Thibodeau.
Towns returned to the court after the injury for the final two minutes of regulation. It was clear that his knee was bothering him as he was hobbled out there.
If Towns were to miss Game 5, that would hamper the Knicks' chances of extending their season. The 29-year-old has been stellar in the series, averaging 25.8 points per game, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three on 5.5 attempts per game.
In 16 playoff games, Towns is averaging 21.3 points per game, 11.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 blocks while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three in 35.3 minutes of action.
The Knicks face an uphill battle, as history is not on their side. In NBA playoff history, teams trailing 3-1 in a series have only managed to come back and win 13 out of 296 times—a success rate of just 4.4 percent.
The most recent team to pull off such a comeback was the Denver Nuggets in 2020, when they rallied to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. One of the most iconic examples remains the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, who reversed a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to defeat the Golden State Warriors.
The last time a team did it in the conference finals was also in 2016, when the Warriors overcame a 3-1 hole against the Thunder.
As for the Knicks, the odds are even bleaker—they're 0-15 all-time when down 3-1 in a series. That includes three prior matchups against the Pacers, one against the Celtics in the East Finals, and four separate occasions in the NBA Finals.
The Pacers have never blown a 3-1 series lead in the playoffs.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM.