Knicks Comeback, Towns' 4th Quarter Cuts Pacers Lead to 2-1

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One thing is for certain. This is one of the best NBA playoff series we have seen in quite some time in a postseason full of exciting games. Two teams with a history of playing good playoff series, the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks, find themselves locked in a thriller for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

Games 1 and 2 went to Indy on the strength of their bench, and their most-overrated player, as voted by the players, PG Tyrese Haliburton. He has played as big as you can play in this postseason, hitting big shot after big shot. Running an offense that goes 10 deep and has almost owned the rest of the league in the final stretch of the regular season.

Game 1 saw a Knicls team in control and poised to take a 1-0 lead in this series. But Haliburton came up huge, and a three-point barrage from Aaron Nesmith, who would hit 8-9 in the game, including five in the final 4:45, would make it a game. But it would come down to the final possession of regulation, and Haliburton had the ball. He made his move, almost got the ball stolen, and then stepped back and threw up a three. The shot hit the back of the rim, sailed high in the air, and swished in. It would turn out the be a two-point shot to tie the game, and the Pacers would win it in OT, 138-135.

Game 2 was gut-check time for the Knicks. They could ill afford to lose this one and go down 2-0, but that is exactly what they did. Pascal Siakam would lose his mind and shoot 15-23 from the field on his way to a 39-point night. The Knicks’ issue in this one was the same as Game 1. The Pacers were just faster and were hitting all the big shots. When Nesmith got hot in Game 1, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau did not make the adjustments to shut the threes down.

So Game 3 was it. The biggest moment in New York Knicks history in 31 years. Would they go down 3-0, or could they find that grit that propelled them past the Boston Celtics? Early on, it was clear that it was not meant to be. The Pacers came out hitting their shots and once again, dictating the pace. It resulted in a 13-point, 58-45 lead going into the locker room at halftime. But something happened in the final stretch of the second quarter. A Haliburton dunk with 3:20 left in the half gave the Pacers a 55-35 lead. The building was rocking, and Indiana was going in for the kill.

In those last 3:20 of the half, the Knicks would outscore the Pacers 10-3 to cut a 20-point lead to a manageable 13-point halftime deficit. But they would have to bring that energy tenfold in the second half because the Pacers were not going away. Jalen Brunson was having a terrible first half and was joined equally by Karl Anthony-Towns.

Foul trouble has plagued these Knicks, and Game 3 would be no different. The second half saw Brunson, once again, spending too much time on the bench. KAT was in the same boat, and Thibs did something Knick Nation has been waiting for. He played some of the other guys. You know, the ones who are actually NBA players, who can actually contribute if you just give them a chance? Landry Shamet and Delon Wright gave the team a few quality minutes, but Thibs still left Precious Achiuwa and Cameron Payne on the bench for some reason.

But it was KAT, who scored four points in three quarters, who came to life in the fourth. He played downhill and big, just like a big man should. He got in the paint, hit his shots, and his layup with 10 minutes left in the game made it 82-79, Pacers. What was working for the Knicks was the adjustment to the open three-point shooters of the Pacers. The defense did a better job of getting to spots to halt the three-point barrage coming from Indiana.

At 8:35, Towns hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one, and when he put down a dunk at 8:02, it gave the Knicks an 86-85 lead. Another 20-point deficit was overcome, but there was still more to do if the Knicks’ season was to be saved. With Brunson on the bench, the Knicks and Towns made a run. Three straight makes by Towns gave the Knicks a 94-90 lead, and all they had to do from there was hit free throws. They did just that, and along with a huge 20-point fourth quarter from Towns, the Knicks survived, 106-100, to make it 2-1 Pacers.

Make no mistake, the Knicks have no chance unless Brunson can find his stroke. He was 6-18 from the floor, and he continues to take shots instead of spreading the ball around and letting his teammates help him. Josh Hart is not playing well, and if that continues, the series will end soon for NY.

It has been electric, exciting, and these two teams are leaving it all out on the floor. It is the best-of-four now with a pivotal Game 4 tomorrow night. A Pacers win gives them complete control of the series. A Knicks win makes it 2-2 going back to the Garden and changes to tone of this series. However, it plays out, the Knicks and Pacers are giving us a show of epic proportions. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.