The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks face off tonight in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Pacers leading the series 2-0.

Game 2 Recap: Siakam Shines

On Friday, the Pacers secured a 114-109 victory at Madison Square Garden, extending their series lead. Pascal Siakam delivered a standout performance, scoring a playoff career-high 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including 16 points in the first quarter. Tyrese Haliburton contributed 14 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, orchestrating Indiana's offense effectively. The Pacers capitalized on the Knicks' 13 turnovers, converting them into 17 points, and outscored New York 14–7 in fast-break points.

The bench also saw a bit of a shakeup, with Ben Sheppard and Tony Bradley getting burn at the expense of Benn Mathurin and Thomas Bryant.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson led with 36 points and 11 assists, surpassing Patrick Ewing for the most 30-point playoff games in franchise history. However, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled defensively, recording a game-worst minus-20 plus-minus and sitting out much of the fourth quarter.

Game 3 Preview: Can the Pacers Remain Focused?

Facing a 0-2 deficit, the Knicks aim to rebound in Game 3. Historically, teams that lose the first two games at home in a best-of-seven series have a slim chance of advancing, making tonight's game critical for New York.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau is considering lineup adjustments to bolster the team's defense. Mitchell Robinson, who played a postseason-high 29 minutes in Game 2 and posted a team-best plus-6 plus-minus, may see increased playing time or even start over Josh Hart. 

The Knicks have been resilient on the road during the playoffs, boasting a 5–1 record away from Madison Square Garden. They'll need to leverage this road success to shift the series momentum.

But let's be honest, this really comes down to which Pacers team shows up tonight. In the first two series, the Pacers have lost focus in Game 3 after winning the first two. This tracks with how they've operated all year, letting their guard down when the pressure is off. It wouldn't be the end of the world if that trend continued but, boy, it sure would be sweet if we could have a chance at sweeping our rivals on Tuesday.

How to Watch

Tipoff is at 8:00 PM ET.

TV: TNT, MAX

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan

See ya in the comments!

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