INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Indiana Pacers appeared to have the New York Knicks in deep trouble in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Yet there was a major problem with the Pacers taking a 20-point home lead and the ensuing belief they were en route to taking a 3-0 series lead.
That’s because the Knicks are highly comfortable when they trail by a large margin. For the third time this postseason, New York battled back from 20 down on the road to win the game. The latest impressive comeback places them in position to tie the series at 2-2 when the teams play Game 4 on Tuesday night at Indianapolis.
New York’s 106-100 comeback victory was reminiscent of the Eastern Conference semifinals when the Knicks rallied from 20-point deficits in each of the first two games in Boston to earn victories en route to eventually winning the series in six games.
“We saw that we were on the brink of it looking pretty dark for us,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson said Monday. “And the way we responded, I think it brings us closer together.”
It certainly tightened up the best-of-seven series as New York outscored the Pacers 36-20 over the final 12 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to join Brunson as the only players in franchise history to tally 20 or more in one quarter during a playoff game. Brunson’s record of 21 in a quarter came against the Pacers in Game 1 of last season’s conference semifinals.
“The game wasn’t looking great for me or all of us,” said Towns, who also collected 15 rebounds. “I just wanted to do what it takes to put us in a position to win. It’s a testament to my teammates to have trust in me and putting me in spots where I can succeed and utilize my talents.”