Game Recap: 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3 – NYK at IND; NYK: 106, IND: 100

“It’s funny, because people were texting me all day, asking if I’m okay,” said Josh Hart, who didn’t start Game 1, but had one of his best performances as a Knick. Before Game 3, Hart suggested to Tom Thibodeau that he should come off the bench, since Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride had been far more productive defensively in Games 1 and 2. “It was never going to be a tough day for me because I had a hand in that decision,” said Hart.

“Josh [Hart] wants to win,” said Jalen Brunson. “It shows who he is as a person, a player, and a teammate. He doesn’t care for anything individual. He just wants to win. And so, it’s a true testament of a great teammate.”

In Game 3, when Brunson was in foul trouble, Karl-Anthony Towns rescued the Knicks. In the fourth quarter, Brunson scored 12 points, but Towns netted 20, along with eight rebounds. “When I got a chance to do what I do in the fourth quarter, I knew I had to seize the opportunity,” said Towns.

And seize the opportunity he did. The Knicks beat Indiana 106-100 in Game 3, recovering from a 20-point deficit for the third time this postseason. Who’s choking now? The New York Knicks, who were 0-9 in playoff games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before last night, became the first team ever to record three 20-point comeback wins in a single NBA postseason.

Karl-Anthony Towns is a creative offensive player who can beat opponents with a plethora of moves, whether it be from downtown, the post, or the free-throw line. He is an aggressive offensive big man, but he struggles defensively and often gets into foul trouble. Last night was different, though, because the Knicks found ways to adjust their strategy in the fourth quarter so that Towns could shine, even while in foul trouble, even while struggling defensively. And he was the clutch player the Knicks needed in the fourth quarter.

“[Towns] can score on all three different levels,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, who emptied the tank in Game 3 by playing Landry Shamet and Delon Wright. Shamet posted a +12 rating for the Knicks in 11 minutes. He was a defensive hero off the bench, just like Deuce McBride, who posted a +7 rating over 15 minutes. Many Knicks players, including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Deuce McBride, found themselves in foul trouble throughout the game, so the Knicks would not have won this game if Shamet and Wright hadn’t provided reliable defense off the bench.

“High-character guys,” said Tom Thibodeau regarding Landry Shamet and Delon Wright. “Both guys have done a good job. We picked up Delon late. Landry’s been terrific all year.” Both players were on the court for the final 1:39 of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. While on the court, they helped the Knicks transform a 13-point deficit into a three-point one.

Brunson found himself in foul trouble early, so much so that Tom Thibodeau sat him for 6.5 straight minutes in the fourth quarter. The Knicks were playing better basketball while he was on the bench because other players were scoring and defending. Brunson didn’t return to the game until the final 1:37 of regulation because “the group was sorta in a good rhythm,” per Thibodeau. “Whatever gives your team the best chance to win,” said Thibodeau. The Knicks are now 6-1 on the road this postseason.

In the fourth quarter, with 1:17 remaining, Jalen Brunson hit a key jump shot to give the Knicks the lead, and with eight seconds to go in regulation, he hit two clutch free throws. But, as I mentioned before, he wasn’t the only clutch player for the Knicks in Game 3. In addition to Karl-Anthony Towns’ heroics, every Knicks player had to hit their shots and guard their opponents for the Knicks to overcome a 20-point deficit and win this ballgame.

The Knicks grinded their way through the second half. They bullied the Pacers, who scored just five three-point shots in the game. “This team has grit and continuity,” said Towns. “This team is special. This locker room is special.”

“That’s what we’re built on,” said Brunson. “It’s tough watching from the sidelines, but I’ve got the utmost faith and confidence in [my teammates] and they did that tonight.” The Knicks’ Game 3 performance perfectly embodied the mantra that offense scores points, but defense wins championships.

But readers, beware. The Knicks may have cut the deficit in this series to 2-1, but it’s going to take a lot more than a 20-point comeback for them to win this series. When a team is up 2-0 in a playoff series, they tend to let up a bit in Game 3. That was the Pacers last night. We’ve got ourselves a series now, but the Knicks must play their best game ever to win Game 4 because there’s no way the Pacers will choke like this again.

Game 4 is scheduled for tomorrow at 8 PM in Indiana.