NY Knicks looking for series comeback against Indiana Pacers after Game 3 rally

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers appeared to have the New York Knicks in deep trouble in Game 3 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) 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 was because the Knicks are highly comfortable when they trail by a large margin.

For the third time this post-season, 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 at Indianapolis on May 27 (May 28, Singapore time).

“We saw that we were on the brink of it looking pretty dark for us,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson said. “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 play-off game. Brunson’s record of 21 in a quarter came against the Pacers in Game 1 of last season’s conference semi-finals.

“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 put me in spots where I can succeed and utilise my talents.”

Veteran New York coach Tom Thibodeau is not surprised his side have registered three epic comeback wins over the past two series – they did so in each of the first two semi-final games against the Boston Celtics.

“In play-off basketball, no lead is safe,” he said.

“I think with the three-point shot, people make up ground quickly. With the pace of the game, people make up ground quickly. You see comebacks all the time. If you let up just a little bit, that’s what happens.”

Indiana are hoping to get positive news regarding forward Aaron Nesmith after he sprained his right ankle midway through the third quarter of Game 3.

Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will be looking for a better effort after pointing the finger at himself for the team’s poor second-half showing of 42 points.

“I didn’t do a good job getting downhill and making plays,” he said. “I’ve got to do a better job there. Execution down the stretch, we definitely can be better, and that starts with me.”

Haliburton is averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 assists in the series.

Brunson had just 23 points in Game 3 but is averaging 34.

Meanwhile on May 26, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a masterful performance to power the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126, lifting them to the brink of the NBA Finals.

He scored a play-off career-high 40 points to spark the Thunder, who took a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals series with Game 5 to come on May 28 at Oklahoma City. REUTERS, AFP