Towns' Fourth Quarter Heroics Propel Knicks Past Pacers in Game 3

Karl-Anthony Towns erupted for 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the New York Knicks to a thrilling 106-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday. Jalen Brunson contributed significantly with 23 points, helping the Knicks overcome a daunting 20-point deficit.

Despite facing foul trouble throughout the game, Towns and Brunson's resilience shone through as they led New York to cut the series deficit to 2-1. The Knicks will look to build on this momentum in Game 4, scheduled for Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

On the other side, Tyrese Haliburton was the standout for the Pacers, finishing with 20 points and six assists. Myles Turner added 19 points, but Indiana's struggles continued as they fell to 0-4 in franchise history when playing on the same day as the Indianapolis 500.

In a festive atmosphere, team officials distributed gold-and-blue "Vroom Baby" T-shirts to celebrate the unique doubleheader of Pacers basketball and auto racing, coinciding with Spain's Alex Palou's victory. Palou received a warm standing ovation during the second quarter, as Indiana surged to a commanding 55-35 lead with just over three minutes left in the half, witnessed by six members of Indiana's 2000 Eastern Conference championship team, including Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.

However, the Pacers could not maintain their grip on the game after establishing a 68-52 lead early in the third quarter. The Knicks mounted a fierce comeback, narrowing the gap to 80-70 by the end of the third period. With Towns and Brunson leading the charge, New York regained the lead at 89-88 following a crucial basket from Brunson with 7:10 remaining. The Knicks held onto a narrow advantage, never leading by more than four points until sealing the game with free throws in the final seconds.

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