The Indiana Pacers hosted the New York Knicks for Game 3 of the 2024–25 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, where the visitors walked away with a hard-fought 106–100 win. The loss keeps the series alive at 2–1, and while Indiana looked in control early, the game ultimately slipped in a challenging second half—a fact not lost on Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
Despite trailing by as many as 20 points in the first half, the Knicks mounted yet another remarkable comeback—marking the third time this postseason they’ve overcome a deficit of that size. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with a dominant fourth-quarter showing, outdueling Haliburton down the stretch and flipping the script inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “I have to watch film to give you a better answer, but it felt like the game was just, like, stuck there. Which is a weird feeling,”
“It felt like the game just got stuck there,” Haliburton said postgame. “Every time we scored, they answered. When we didn’t, we’d get a stop, but we never pulled away. I felt like the ball got stuck a little bit. A lot of our turnovers—eight out of 12—came in the second half. We valued possessions better in the first.”
Towns delivered a playoff statement in the final frame, scoring 20 of his 26 points in the fourth. Jalen Brunson, limited by foul trouble throughout the second half, returned in time to sink the go-ahead floater with 1:17 remaining, sealing the Game 3 win for New York. It was a stunning collapse for Indiana, who led by double digits most of the night.
Indiana also suffered a major blow in the third quarter when Aaron Nesmith exited with a sprained ankle. Nesmith had been a crucial contributor in the series, entering Game 3 having shot 13-of-20 from the floor and a red-hot 10-of-12 from three-point range in Games 1 and 2. His absence was felt in the Pacers’ fourth-quarter fade.
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Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, but the team struggled badly from the perimeter, converting just 5-of-25 attempts from beyond the arc. Indiana was also outscored 36–20 in the final period, as defensive lapses and lack of ball movement allowed New York to claw back and close out the win.
Another underwhelming performance came from Pascal Siakam, who finished with just 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. After playing a vital role in Indiana’s Game 2 win, his reduced impact in Game 3 was a critical missing element, especially with Nesmith sidelined and the Knicks surging late.
As the series shifts toward a pivotal Game 4, the Pacers will need both improved execution and healthier bodies. With New York regaining momentum and Indiana searching for answers, the NBA Eastern Conference Finals are officially up for grabs.
