Knicks Defy NBA Odds With Third 20-Point Playoff Comeback
No franchise has ever made erasing huge playoff deficits look this routine. The New York Knicks, pushed to the edge in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers, delivered another wild twist in their postseason. Down by 20 points in the third quarter, fans at Madison Square Garden were already bracing for the worst. What followed was another dose of playoff drama, with Karl-Anthony Towns taking center stage.
Towns dropped an electrifying 20 points in the fourth quarter. He hit contested jumpers, bullied defenders in the paint, and sparked a surge that the Pacers simply couldn’t match. By the final buzzer, New York had walked away with a 106-100 win, leaving Indiana and the crowd in total disbelief.
This wasn’t just another comeback. According to ESPN Research, no team since the NBA began tracking detailed play-by-play stats in 1998 has ever erased three 20-point deficits in one postseason. The Knicks now own that record, adding a historic chapter to a franchise that’s seen its share of playoff heartbreak. The drama didn’t stop there. They became only the fourth NBA squad ever to claw back from multiple double-digit holes headed into the fourth quarter in the same postseason run.
Team Effort: Brunson, Hart, and Defense Step Up
Certain games reveal everything about a team’s soul. Jalen Brunson poured in 23 points, steady in his decisions and never rattled when the Pacers tried to ramp up pressure. Josh Hart flew around the court, racking up 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists—just one bucket shy of a triple-double. Hart’s energy led to game-turning moments late in the fourth, his hustle setting up crucial baskets. When the Knicks needed one last burst, Hart zipped a pass to Deuce McBride for a clean layup, essentially sealing the improbable win.
The Pacers played their part in the night’s drama. Tyrese Haliburton kept Indiana in control early, darting through New York’s defense and setting up open shots all over the floor. For much of the first three quarters, it looked like Indiana would cruise to an easy victory. But when the Knicks tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and contesting every look, the Pacers’ shooters cooled off. New York’s defense deserves plenty of credit—without those key stops, Towns’ fireworks wouldn’t have mattered.
Still, the ecstasy proved short. Indiana regrouped for Game 4 and handed the Knicks a harsh reality check. Haliburton turned in one of the cleanest playoff triple-doubles in memory: 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and not a single turnover. Indiana jumped out early and never gave New York much of a chance, taking a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. But if this season has shown anything, it’s that the Knicks aren’t done fighting—no matter the size of the hill in front of them.
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