Pacers Grab 2-1 Edge, Knicks Feel the Heat
The Indiana Pacers have claimed a narrow 2-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, taking down the New York Knicks 106-100 in a tight Game 3 fight on Sunday night. A mix of clutch offense and relentless hustle has put Indiana in its best playoff position in decades, reviving memories of their 2000 Finals squad. The Pacers’ win couldn’t have come at a better time, especially against old East rivals from New York who are feeling the strain after coming up short in back-to-back matchups.
While Game 3 aired in primetime at 8 p.m. on TNT and Max, no amount of spotlight seemed to rattle Indiana. They built on their second straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance, showing off depth and teamwork that carried them past the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the last round. Pacers fans have started to believe in something special as the team aims to end a 24-year Finals drought.
Knicks Under Pressure, Pacers Chase NBA Finals Return
The pressure cooker is heating up for the Knicks, who now trail in a series many thought they’d control earlier in the postseason. After a huge upset knocking out the defending champion Celtics, New York’s magic has stalled at the hands of the Pacers. The difference so far feels razor-thin: a couple missed shots, a turnover, a defensive breakdown here or there. These small moments have added up to Indiana’s series lead and left New York on edge heading into Game 4.
History is swirling around both teams. Every Knicks-Pacers series throws fans back to their bruising 2000 battle for Eastern supremacy. Back then, Indiana bounced New York and booked their only trip to the NBA Finals. Fast forward nearly a quarter-century, and the Pacers are the favorites once again. Bookmakers like their odds, listing Indiana at -220 for the series, while the Knicks have slipped to +184 as underdogs. That hasn’t stopped Knicks loyalists from dreaming, but it does mean the margin for error is gone.
Game 4—set for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27—could swing everything. If Indiana capitalizes on their home court, they’ll be a single step away from making the NBA’s summer showcase. If the Knicks can dig deep and even things up, this could become another classic in a rivalry filled with wild twists and playoff heartbreaks. One thing is guaranteed: none of these players are thinking about tomorrow. It’s all about the next 48 minutes and the shot to make some franchise history.
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