In a dramatic turn of events during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, Jalen Brunson, the standout guard for the New York Knicks and a second-team All-NBA player, found himself in foul trouble. With just 1:36 remaining in the second quarter, Brunson picked up his fourth personal foul, leaving the Knicks in a precarious position while the Indiana Pacers led 56-40. Following this crucial foul, Andrew Nembhard converted two free throws, extending Indiana's lead to an impressive 18 points. At this juncture in the series, it appeared that Indiana was poised to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Pacers had already secured victories in the first two games of the series held in New York, and during the second quarter of Game 3, they even led by as much as 20 points. Historically, teams that fall into a 3-0 playoff deficit face insurmountable odds, with a perfect 157-0 record for teams holding a 3-0 lead in NBA playoff history. The Pacers seemed on the verge of a trip to the NBA Finals, yet the Knicks had other plans.
Despite being down significantly, the Knicks rallied back, ultimately winning the game 106-100 and narrowing Indiana's series lead to 2-1. The pivotal moments unfolded not just in the fourth quarter, where Karl-Anthony Towns exploded for 20 of his game-high 24 points, but rather stemmed from a series of events during the first half and throughout the third quarter.
The Pacers, who scored a mere 100 points in the game—marking their lowest output since February 4—managed only 42 points in the second half. Head coach Rick Carlisle expressed his frustration, noting, “When we started building a lead, and the crowd got into it, things got a little crazy. We had some back-and-forth, kind of nutty plays, with some turnovers.” He emphasized the importance of executing the basics effectively and maintaining composure under pressure.
The Knicks began their comeback slowly, reducing a daunting 20-point deficit to just 13 by halftime. The third quarter proved to be a missed opportunity for the Pacers. Despite Brunson's foul troubles, Indiana failed to exploit his vulnerability, instead opting for questionable shot selections that allowed New York to remain competitive. By the end of the third quarter, the Pacers managed a 90-80 lead, a margin that was alarmingly close given the flow of the game.
“It felt like every time we scored, they scored. Every time we didn’t, we got a stop. We never were able to really pull away,” said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. Even as the Pacers controlled significant portions of the game, their inability to capitalize on Brunson’s fouls became a turning point. The Knicks strategically hid Brunson on Aaron Nesmith, preventing Indiana from effectively targeting him during critical moments.
The situation worsened for Indiana when Nesmith suffered a sprained ankle midway through the third quarter. Having been one of the team's best offensive players, his absence was felt keenly. Although he returned for the fourth quarter, he was unable to contribute significantly, which compounded Indiana's challenges.
Despite leading by as much as 16 points early in the third quarter, the Pacers allowed the Knicks to stay within striking distance. Towns' performance in the fourth quarter underscored the importance of closing games effectively. Carlisle pointed out the critical errors, stating, “Poor job of closing the third quarter and not a good enough start to the fourth quarter.”
The Pacers are not strangers to playoff pressure, having faced similar situations in previous series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. In those instances, they were able to rebound and win convincingly in Game 4. While the Knicks have now gained momentum, Indiana will need to quickly assess their strategy to avoid repeating past mistakes.
As Haliburton noted, “A hundred points? That’s not us.” If the Pacers hope to regain control of the series in Game 4, they must focus on their defensive strategy and capitalize on every opportunity. The stakes are high, and the outcome of the next game could redefine the trajectory of this playoff series.
