Knicks fall short to Indiana, miss opportunity to take a 3-0 lead

In the closing moments, with the score tied at 106, Andrew Nembhard made a miraculous contested 31-foot step-back jumper, giving the Pacers a 109-106 lead with just 17.1 seconds remaining. Jalen Brunson had a chance to tie the game with a potential four-point play but was unable to draw the foul and his shot missed the target.

“I could’ve closed out a little better. But he was so far away and bobbled the ball a little bit and the ball went in.”

– Jalen Brunson

The Indiana Pacers would survive Game 3, prevailing 111-106.

For the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo led the charge with an impressive 35 points, shooting 12-26 from the field and an outstanding 7-11 from beyond the arc. Brunson contributed 26 points to the Knicks’ effort, while Josh Hart recorded a double-double with 10 points and a remarkable 18 rebounds.

The Knicks faced a significant deficit early in the second half, trailing 77-66. However, they mounted a remarkable comeback, outscoring the Pacers 32-12 and taking a commanding 98-89 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Knicks struggled to maintain their momentum, enduring a nearly six-minute scoring drought that allowed the Pacers to claw their way back into the game.

Despite the Knicks’ resilient effort, the Pacers managed to hold on for the win, setting the stage for an intense Game 4.

With OG Anunoby sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury on Game 2, Knicks coach Thibodeau turned to Alec Burks and Jericho Sims for additional minutes off the bench. Burks seized the opportunity, scoring 14 points on efficient shooting (4-6 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line) and making crucial plays down the stretch.

Looking ahead, the status of Anunoby remains uncertain for Sunday, but Burks’ impactful performance and the Knicks’ competitive showing in Game 3 offer hope for the remainder of the series.

For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton led the scoring with 35 points. Haliburton shot 14-26 from the field including 6-16 from beyond the arc. Pascal Siakam added 26 points, while Myles Turner contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds. Former Knick Obi Toppin had a quiet game, finishing with just 2 points in nearly 20 minutes off the bench.

With Game 4 scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM, both teams will look to make adjustments and gain an edge in the series.