Control is fragile in the playoffs, especially when a team can rally from nine down
In the compressed drama of playoff basketball, the Indiana Pacers reminded us on Friday night that a lead is never a possession — only a possibility. Tyrese Haliburton and his teammates erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit against an injury-diminished New York Knicks squad at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with Andrew Nembhard's 31-foot three-pointer sealing a 111-106 victory with 16 seconds remaining. The Knicks, navigating the absence of OG Anunoby and the compromised health of Jalen Brunson, now hold a 2-1 series lead that feels less like comfort and more like a warning.
- Indiana trailed by nine with under ten minutes to play, yet Haliburton — posting his second straight playoff career high of 35 points — refused to let the game slip away.
- Nembhard's 31-foot dagger with 16 seconds left broke a tie and crystallised a comeback the Knicks had every reason to prevent.
- Brunson played through a right foot injury, hit a clutch tying three, then missed badly on the next possession — the kind of moment that can define a series.
- DiVincenzo's 35 points on 7-of-11 three-point shooting gave New York a genuine chance, but Indiana's fourth-quarter execution proved sharper when it mattered most.
- New York still leads 2-1, but Anunoby's hamstring injury and Brunson's uncertain foot leave the Knicks heading into Game 4 in Indianapolis with questions they cannot yet answer.
Andrew Nembhard's three-pointer — launched from 31 feet, falling through with 16 seconds left — turned a game the Pacers had little right to win into one they will long remember. Indiana trailed New York by nine points with less than ten minutes remaining in Game 3, yet walked out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 111-106 victory that tightened a series the Knicks had seemed to be controlling.
The comeback was powered by Tyrese Haliburton, whose 35 points marked his second consecutive playoff career high. Pascal Siakam added 26 points and seven rebounds, Myles Turner contributed 21 points and 10 boards, and Nembhard saved his finest for last — five of his points arrived in the final minute alone.
For New York, the loss stung not only because of the collapse but because of the circumstances surrounding it. Jalen Brunson, clearly hampered by a right foot injury, scored 26 points and hit a tying three-pointer with 42 seconds left, only to miss badly on the next attempt 13 seconds later. Donte DiVincenzo was brilliant — 35 points, seven threes — but brilliance from one player could not compensate for Indiana's collective fourth-quarter resolve.
The Knicks were also without OG Anunoby, lost to a left hamstring injury, with reserve Alec Burks stepping in for 14 useful points across 21 minutes — admirable, but not a true substitute for Anunoby's defensive range and spacing. Anunoby travelled to Indianapolis for Game 4, though his availability for Sunday's matchup remains unclear.
New York retains a 2-1 series lead and, with it, a measure of control — but control in the playoffs is provisional. With Haliburton playing at an elite level and Indiana capable of manufacturing rallies from deep deficits, the Knicks must solve the problem of protecting late leads, with or without their injured pieces.
Andrew Nembhard's three-pointer hung in the air for what felt like the entire final minute of Game 3. It fell through with 16 seconds left, and suddenly the Indiana Pacers had stolen a game they had no business winning. The Knicks, who led by nine points with less than ten minutes to play, walked out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 111-106 loss and a series lead that felt considerably less comfortable than it had an hour earlier.
The Pacers' fourth-quarter surge was built on the shoulders of Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 35 points—his second consecutive playoff career high. He was the engine of Indiana's comeback, the player who refused to let New York's lead hold. Pascal Siakam contributed 26 points and seven rebounds, while Myles Turner added 21 points and 10 boards. But it was Nembhard's moment that will define this game: five of his points came in the final minute, capped by that 31-foot dagger that broke the tie and sent the Pacers home with a win they desperately needed.
New York's collapse was made worse by circumstance. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks' engine, was slowed by a right foot injury that clearly affected his movement and decision-making. He scored 26 points and hit a tying three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining, but then missed badly on another three-point attempt with 13 seconds left—the kind of miss that haunts a team in the playoffs. Donte DiVincenzo was the Knicks' bright spot, pouring in 35 points on efficient shooting, going 7-of-11 from three. But even that wasn't enough to overcome Indiana's fourth-quarter execution.
The Knicks were also playing without OG Anunoby, their starting forward, who suffered a left hamstring injury. Alec Burks, a reserve who had played just one minute in the postseason before Game 3, stepped into the void and scored 14 points in 21 minutes—a solid contribution, but not a replacement for Anunoby's defensive versatility and floor spacing. Anunoby travelled with the team to Indianapolis for Game 4, but his status for Sunday's matchup remains uncertain.
New York still leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, which means they retain control. But control is a fragile thing in the playoffs, especially when injuries are mounting and a team like Indiana—with Haliburton playing at an elite level—can manufacture a fourth-quarter rally from nine points down. Game 4 is set for Sunday in Indianapolis, and the Knicks will need to figure out how to protect a lead in the final quarter, with or without Anunoby, and with Brunson's foot still a question mark.
Citas Notables
The Knicks couldn't hold on despite leading by nine with less than ten minutes to play, as Haliburton and the Pacers executed in the fourth quarter— Game summary
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a single three-pointer with 16 seconds left feel like it decided the entire series momentum?
Because it wasn't just a shot—it was the moment the Knicks' control evaporated. They had nine points with nine minutes left. That's supposed to be a win. When you lose from there, it's not about the final shot. It's about the fact that you couldn't execute when it mattered.
Haliburton had 35 points. Is that the kind of performance that wins playoff series?
It's the kind that keeps a series alive. The Pacers needed him to be perfect, and he was close. But what matters now is whether he can do it again in Game 4, and whether the Knicks can adjust to what he's doing.
The Knicks were missing Anunoby and Brunson was hurt. Does that excuse the loss?
It explains it, but it doesn't erase it. In the playoffs, you play with what you have. The Knicks had enough to win this game. They just didn't finish it.
What happens if Anunoby can't play on Sunday?
Then the Knicks are asking Burks and their bench to do more than they're built to do. Anunoby isn't just a scorer—he's a defender. Without him, Indiana gets more space to operate.
Is the series over?
No. The Knicks still lead 2-1. But they're no longer in control of the narrative. That's what changed tonight.