The Pacers had the Knicks on the ropes until they didn’t
The Indiana Pacers got a taste of their own medicine. In Game 3, the Pacers were up 20 points in the second half and a clear lane to take a nearly insurmountable 3-0 lead over the New York Knicks . They were one quarter away from a glide path to an NBA Finals appearance.
Karl-Anthony Towns had other ideas. Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. As is his habit, he did a little bit of everything, and did it while looking every which way. Sometimes smooth, sometimes, confident, sometimes wild, sometimes whiny. A demonstrative Towns is a dangerous Towns, and he put his team on his back to win one in Indianpolis. Of course, now they have to do it again. If the Knicks can tie this series at 2-2, it is a whole new ball game.
The Pacers, meanwhile, will look to re-engage their explosive attack led by Tyrese Haliburton, but with plenty of firepower around the perimeter. That includes Aaron Nesmith, the hero of Game 1 who sank six threes in the fourth quarter to help push the game to overtime. He is also getting the lion’s share of tough defensive assignments. He was listed as questionable entering Tuesday, but all signs point to him playing tonight as Indy tries to regain control of the series.
Game Vitals
When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Watch: TNT, TruTV, Max
Odds: Pacers -3
Projected Lineups
New York Knicks (1-2)
Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson
Indiana Pacers (2-1)
Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner