New York Knicks 106-100 Indiana Pacers: summary, stats and highlights, NBA Eastern Conference finals | Game 3
The Pacers held a lead of 20 points at one stage but when on the ropes, the Knicks bounced back and head into Tuesday’s fourth game trailing 2-1.
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Knicks @ Pacers: Game 3 as it happened
New York 106-100 Indiana Pacers
An incredible comeback from the Knicks keeps the series very much alive ahead of Game 4 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
The Knicks still ever so slightly in control as we enter the final minute.
Karl Anthony Towns has been instrumental in this incredible revival from New York.
Indiana call a time out.
Just over three minutes remain.
Towns with an incredible 3 pointer and he's now on 20 points for this quarter.
Towns now the top scorer for the Knicks with 24 for the night.
Into the final 7 minutes of the game as Knicks switch Brunson for McBride.
Good news for the Pacers as Nesmith is back on court after that earlier ankle issue.
Knicks take a time out as they lead for the first time since the first quarter.
The mood at Gainbridge Fieldhouse has shifted too as the fans sense that the Knicks are the stronger team at the moment.
It has been an excellent comeback from New York as they dig deep in a desperate bid to keep the series alive.
NY on 16-4 run at the moment and lets not forget that at one point the Knicks trailed by 20 points.
Indiana call a time out as New York bring the deficit back to just 5 points.
Q4 is underway ... Knicks slowly creeping back into the game.
The Pacers have lead the way from midway through the first quarter and have never looked back.
A final 12 minutes remain in Indianapolis.
End of Q3
Knicks 70-80 Pacers
Much better from the Knicks as they bring it back to an 8 point lead.
Miles McBride has been instrumental in this mini-revival.
Haliburton (13), Turner (13) and TJ McConnell are the highest scoring Pacers players so far this evening.
A right ankle sprain is the diagnosis from the Pacers medical team for Nesmith and a return to the court for the small forward is 'questionable'.
Anunoby (Knicks) moves to the top of the scoring charts as he bags 16 for his team, however New York are still well off the pace and trail 59-74.
Indiana call a time out
Nesmith limps off court after rolling his ankle.
Not sure we'll see the small forward later tonight.
Fantastic defensive work from Indiana as they steal the ball once again and Siakam sinks the basket.
Trailing by 16, the Knicks call another time out.
The 3's are just not dropping for the Pacers in this quarter but every time that the Knicks are handed the initiative, they fail to take the chance given and concede and advantage back to Indiana.
Despite trailing, Jalen Brunson is the top scorer in tonight's game with 13 points.
The teams are back on court and Q3 is underway.
Pacers in control at the interval
Fast play and dogged determination have been key ingredients that see the Indiana Pacers very much in control at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Half Time
New York Knicks 35-48 Indiana Pacers
The half ends and Pacers lead by 13.
Brunson earns his fourth foul of the night and we're still in the second quarter.
Time out from New York as they trail by 20.
Pacers 8-0 since they made and win that video challenge a few minutes back.
Towns and Brunson now on three fouls and it does appear that things are starting to slip away from New York.
7/9 vs 4/10 FG's with the Pacers ahead in this quarter.
Indiana call for a video review after a foul was called against Towns.
Was Halliburton fouling Towns or the other way around?
The call goes the way of the Pacers.
Indy 500 winner Alex Palou is in attendance at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse sporting a yellow Pacers jersey.
7 minutes remain as the Pacers call their first time out of this second quarter.
Pacers lead by ten with less than 8 minutes of the second quarter remaining.
Knicks call a time out as they trail by eight, the highest margin of the game so far.
McConnell has impressed for the Pacers tonight with 8 points and the guard driving at the opposition each time he is possession.
Q2 is underway as Towns has yet to find the basket for NY with more than eight minutes on court.
New York 26-30 Indiana (Q1)
The quarter comes to a close and Indiana lead for the first time after Q1 in the series.
Brunson levels the game with two free throws and with his 11 points, the Knicks star is the highest scorer in the game so far.
Nesmith has been Brunson's shadow this evening and despite the tight marking, the 28-year-old has managed 7 points so far tonight.
With just over 4 minutes left on the clock, the Knicks call their first time out of Game 3.
First time on the night that the Pacers lead too.
Brunson sinks his two free throws.
The Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a sea of yellow with fans in the promo t-shirts on each seat.
Tyrese Haliburton does well to sink a basket and seems to be furious with the officials as he was fouled on his way to the basket.
Pacers call a time out.
The Pacers still yet to bag a three pointer despite the best efforts from Siakam.
Anunoby bags the first 3 points of the night for the Knicks who have yet to trail in the game so far tonight.
We've seen New York dominate the first halves of the first two games of the series to date.
Siakam gets his first points of the night.
Surely we can't expect anything like his 39 tally from Game 2.
Off we go.
Knicks win the tip off.
The Knicks are in their blue uniform tonight with the Pacers in their classic yellow as the teams are introduced to the crowd.
The teams are on court with tip-off just minutes away.
In both Games 1 and 2, the Knicks started the better side and were ahead at half time in both matches.
Indiana's resilience and never say die spirit kept them in the game and the No. 4 seed finished the stronger team in both games.
Knicks Game 3 poster
The creative team at the NY Knicks have done a solid job with their post for Game 3 in Indianapolis.
Knicks five confirmed
Tom Thibodeau names his starting team and as expected Mitchell Robinson starts with Josh Hart starting on the bench for New York.
Pacers starting five announced
Siakam is the man to watch for the Pacers with 29 points in Game 2.
In the West ....
Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the opening games, Game 3 saw the Timberwolves claw their way back into the series with a comprehensive 143-101 win in Minnesota.
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.
Knicks in Indiana this season
The New Yorkers have played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse twice this regular season winning once and tasting defeat too.
Can they find a way back into the series tonight or will the Pacers get a hat trick of wins that you would feel would see the series tied up.
When are the remaining games of the series scheduled?
After tonight's third meeting between the Knicks and Pacers, the fourth instalment is scheduled for Tuesday and will be staged also in Indianapolis.
A possible Game 5 takes us back to New York on Thursday with a Game 6 lined up for the following Saturday back at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Should the series still be alive after six games, the decider is earmarked for Monday June 2nd in NYC.
Indianapolis sporting double
After the earlier held Indy 500 Speedway race staged at the nearby 'The Brickyard', which incidentally was won by Alex Palou (Spain), the spotlight now falls to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the third game in the best of seven series.
Pacers arrive
A relaxed looking Indiana Pacers team arrived earlier at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the clock ticks down towards Game 3.
A reminder that tip-off is at 8pm ET.
Game 3: match officials
Pacers vs Knicks refereeing team:
Crew Chief: Scott Foster
Referee: Sean Wright
Umpire: Ed Malloy
Alternate: Nick Buchert
Replay Center: Kevin Scott
Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers / JASON MILLER / Getty Images via AFP
Carlisle taking nothing for granted
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle refuses to get carried away after the Pacers winning both opening games of the series in NYC.
“You cannot assume going home is going to be easier. It never is,” Carlisle said. “Each game as you ascend in a playoff series becomes harder. New York, they’ve got an amazing fighting spirit.”
Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers / ELSA / Getty Images via AFP
Siakam: 'Special team'
Speaking ahead of Game 3, Pacers star Pascal Siakam spoke to the media.
“I think what makes us special as a team is just that we have different weapons and we’re not consumed with who’s going to do what,” Siakam said, “you just go into the game, and however the game presents itself, that’s how we go and take it and do it our way. And it doesn’t matter who scores.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks / DYLAN BUELL / Getty Images via AFP
Thibodeau to ring the changes?
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is reportedly considering a big change to the team.
ESPN reports that Thibodeau may bring center Mitchell Robinson into the starting five, taking the place of Josh Hart on the court.
Thibodeau is famed for his lack of personnel changes and has been remarkably consistent in his selections all season. If he alters the team on Sunday it will be the first time this season that he has chosen to deviate from the normal five of Hart, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. The only other changes have been due to availability or fitness.
All set at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
18,000 fans are expected to pack out the Arena in downtown Indianapolis with the Pacers keen to make the NBA Finals for what would only be the second time in franchise history.
The team were beaten finalists in 2000, falling 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers.
History against NY
The Knicks have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years but have fallen short in their first two games. No team has ever come back to win from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game playoff series.
The Knicks come to Indianapolis still smarting from their two game defeats at MSG and will be aware that defeat tonight will leave the team on the precipice.
The Game 3 action tips off at 8pm ET.
The spotlight in the world of sport stays in Indianapolis after the Indy 500 earlier at the Brickyard, the focus turns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 of the 2024-25 NBA Finals.
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