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Pacers vs. Knicks Game 3 Breakdown: Can New York Bounce Back or Will Indiana Seal It?

The Eastern Conference Finals shift to Indianapolis as the Indiana Pacers host the New York Knicks for Game 3 on May 25, 2025. The Pacers lead the series 2-0 after two tightly contested games at Madison Square Garden. With the series on the line, the Knicks aim to leverage their strong road performance to stay alive.





🗓️ Game Info

  • Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025

  • Time: 8:00 PM ET

  • Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

  • Broadcast: TNT, truTV, Max

Indiana did the impossible in Game 1: came back from 17 points down with under 4 minutes to go and stunned the Knicks in OT. In Game 2, Pascal Siakam erupted for a playoff career-high 39 points to crush New York’s attempt to level the series.



📊 Team Metrics (Postseason 2025)

Category

Pacers

Knicks

Record (Playoffs)

10–3

8–6

Points/Game

114.6

110.3

FG%

49.7%

46.4%

3PT%

38.2%

33.9%

Assists/Game

29.2

22.5

Turnovers/Game

11.8

12.6

Defensive Rating

113.8

109.4

Pace

103.9 (fastest in NBA)

97.4 (slow)

Key Insight: The Pacers are playing with speed, precision, and depth. The Knicks are playing a slower, more physical brand but struggling to match Indy’s tempo and movement.


🎯 Player Spotlight

Indiana Pacers

  • Pascal Siakam: 20.3 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.9 APG | 52% FG

  • Tyrese Haliburton: 18.1 PPG | 9.6 APG | 42% 3PT

  • Myles Turner: 2.3 BPG | Interior anchor

  • Bench Impact: T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin provide energy, assists, and transition scoring.


New York Knicks

  • Jalen Brunson: 32.1 PPG | 6.3 APG | Playing through foot injury

  • Donte DiVincenzo: 15.2 PPG | 37% 3PT | X-factor shooter

  • Josh Hart: Rebounding monster, but limited in scoring

  • Injury Watch: OG Anunoby and Julius Randle still out. Brunson and Hart are playing through pain.



🧠 Tactical Breakdown

Indiana's Gameplan

  • Push tempo relentlessly — fastest pace in the playoffs

  • Haliburton as the engine, drawing defenders and kicking out to open shooters

  • Siakam in ISO and mid-post, exploiting mismatches

  • Switch-heavy defense with Turner anchoring the paint


New York's Challenges

  • Over-reliance on Brunson — too many possessions end with hero ball

  • Defensive mismatches in transition — Indiana is punishing slow rotations

  • Shallow depth due to injuries — wear and tear showing late in games



💰 Betting Analysis – Game 3 Odds Snapshot

Market

Line/Odds

Insight

Moneyline

Pacers -135 / Knicks +115

Public leaning slightly Pacers

Spread

Pacers -2.5

Pacers have covered 4 of last 5 home games

Total Points (O/U)

216.5

Game 1 went way over, Game 2 under — mixed signal

Props to Watch

Haliburton Assists Over (9.5), Siakam Points Over (22.5), Brunson Points Over (29.5)


Trends:

  • Pacers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games

  • Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 as underdogs

  • Pacers are 8-2 when scoring over 115 points in the postseason



🩻 Injuries & Rotations

Team

Player

Status

Impact

Knicks

Jalen Brunson

Playing (foot issue)

Limited mobility late in games

Knicks

OG Anunoby

Out

Hurts perimeter defense

Knicks

Julius Randle

Out (season)

Major loss in scoring/rebounding

Pacers

Clean Injury Report

—

Full squad available

Key takeaway: Indiana is healthy, rested, and deep. New York is thin and battered.



🧠 X-Factors for Game 3

  1. Can New York adjust defensively to Indiana’s transition game and closeouts on shooters?

  2. Can anyone besides Brunson score consistently for the Knicks?

  3. Will Indiana’s home crowd give them the mental edge to push to a 3-0 lead?



🔚 Final Thoughts

Game 3 isn’t just another playoff game — it’s the psychological pivot of the series. The Knicks are injured, tired, and running out of answers. The Pacers are younger, faster, deeper, and now playing at home where they’ve gone 29–11 in the regular season.


New York is entirely dependent on Jalen Brunson. If he can’t go full throttle — and signs point to him being limited — then Indiana will break them apart in transition and with perimeter depth. The Knicks’ defense has already cracked under Indiana’s pace.


Barring a miracle or Siakam/Haliburton both going cold, Indiana is the better team right now — period. They’re more complete, more in rhythm, and have the momentum.

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