In that quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns wowed the home crowd by pouring in 20 of his 24 points. His astounding effort carried the New York Knicks to a much-needed 106-100 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. The special game was played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Towns delivered under duress and carried the Knicks through to their first series victory.
The triumph represented a huge breakthrough for the Knicks, still down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Towns was the one who provided late-game heroics, with a fantastic 30-foot, step-back three-point bomb. Despite being double-covered, he made the shot and put New York up 94-90 with just over five minutes to go in the game. His strong play ensured that the Knicks remained competitive. It made history by becoming only the second occurrence in playoff history that a New York player scored 20 or more points in a quarter.
Towns’ Dominance in the Fourth Quarter
Towns came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring an impressive 15 points within the first 3:58 of play. His rapid-fire scoring outburst featured some key buckets that turned the tide in the Knicks’ favor. Towns was unstoppable, scoring 20 points in the last quarter. His play definitely gave New York the shot in the arm it so desperately required.
His rebounding dominance was just as important to the Knicks’ success. Towns’ 15 rebounds were a game-high, and he helped dominate both ends of the floor. His dominance on the boards helped New York gain key possessions and generate second-chance looks.
“When I got a chance to do what I do in the fourth, I was going to make sure I seized the opportunity,” – Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks’ Strategic Comeback
The Knicks were behind the eight ball the whole game with the Pacers jumping out to an early 20-point lead. Towns’ late-game explosion was the catalyst behind New York’s comeback from a 25-point hole. It reminded fans of their play during the Eastern Conference semifinals run. With each basket, Towns not only increased the confidence of his teammates, he freaked out the Knicks’ offense.
This comeback was not without its challenges. The Pacers had a tough time defending Towns and didn’t look nearly as sharp offensively as they typically have. Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged the difficulties faced by Indiana, stating, “We didn’t do a good enough job of continuing to play fast.” His mood codified perfectly, too, by teammate Pascal Siakam who called them out for not making big, key stops when it mattered.
“We couldn’t get stops when we needed them. And offensively, we didn’t have our usual pop. We didn’t have the ball movement that we usually do.” – Pascal Siakam
Looking Ahead
With the series moving to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, the Knicks will look to get things back to 2-2 on Tuesday evening. Towns’ Game 3 showing should raise expectations of his role going forward. Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his star player’s abilities, stating, “KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns] is a very gifted scorer.”
The stakes are equally high for both teams as they gear up for another rematch. The Knicks need to build off the momentum of this win and go forward. The Pacers will certainly work toward getting back on track and reclaiming control of the series. Once again, Towns is able to raise his game in the biggest moments. Fans from both cities can expect to see an awesome addition to this budding playoff rivalry!
