Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a fourth-quarter masterclass as the New York Knicks clawed back from a 20-point hole to edge the Indiana Pacers 106-100 and avoid a perilous 3-0 series deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With Jalen Brunson battling foul trouble and stuck on the bench after three quarters, the Knicks needed a spark. Towns, playing through a sore knee, provided it with a defiant 20-point burst in the final 12 minutes, a performance steeped in grit, power, and sheer will.
“It’s a true test when you’re down 20-plus,” Towns said. “Tonight was the kind of night where you had to have that never-say-die attitude.”
New York had trailed by 16 late in the third quarter and still faced a 10-point gap heading into the fourth. But Towns started the final period with a deep three, followed by a pair of bulldozing layups to swing momentum. Brunson returned just in time to finish the job, giving the Knicks their first lead at 89-88 with 7:10 to play.
Brunson finished with 23 points despite sitting large chunks due to five fouls. Towns added 15 rebounds in a tireless display, with New York only trailing twice more before sealing the win with free throws in the dying seconds.
The Pacers, buoyed by a home crowd fresh from the Indy 500 and a pre-game visit by winner Alex Palou, looked in control with a 55-35 first-half advantage. Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 20 points, while Myles Turner added 19.
But losing Aaron Nesmith to an ankle injury in the third quarter blunted Indiana’s defensive edge. Though he returned late on, the Pacers couldn’t recover their composure. “We just simply did not execute as well as we needed to,” coach Rick Carlisle admitted.
The series now stands at 2-1, with Game 4 looming on Tuesday night in Indianapolis and a Knicks team suddenly brimming with belief.
