The New York Knicks play in Indianapolis tonight, hoping to do what the Minnesota Timberwolves did last night: respond on the road with a critical Game 3 win to stay alive in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York trails the Indiana Pacers 0–2 after two tough losses at Madison Square Garden — including a 114–109 defeat in Game 2 behind Pascal Siakam’s 39-point eruption.
Despite the defeats, the Knicks have been competitive. They led for most of Game 1 and were down by 1 in Game 2 with 15 seconds left. Better execution in the final stretches is key. But New York’s inability to get the job done at the end of the game has very much to do with how the preceding minutes are played.
Both games were played on the Pacers’ terms: fast-paced, high-scoring games in which New York turnovers and sloppy defense allowed Indiana to score with reckless abandon in key stretches. By crunch time, Knicks starters, including Jalen Brunson, appear fatigued, the defensive lapses and turnovers become more frequent, and so too do the missed shots.
The Knicks’ predicament may call for a lineup change, with Mitchell Robinson starting in the place of Josh Hart. Robinson boasts a positive +/- rating because of his prowess on the offensive boards and his remarkable ability to rotate on defense. He can’t shoot free throws for the life of him, but his defense is a masterclass.
Robinson has already seen his minutes increase. He played 29 minutes in Game 2, with Karl-Anthony Towns sitting for much of the 4th quarter.
Towns has been a scoring machine, but his Swiss cheese defense is a liability.
If Robinson starts, the Knicks can dictate the pace early on — but he has to avoid foul trouble. New York has to force Tyrese Haliburton and Indiana into half-court sets, take care of the ball, and win the rebounding battle.
This is a must-win game. It’s also a game the Knicks can win. They’re 5–1 on the road in the playoffs and have consistently responded with their backs against the wall. That’s been within games. This time, they’re behind in a series.
New York will scrape out a win tonight. But they’ve dug themselves into too deep a hole. The series looks out of reach.
Game Prediction: Knicks win by a low margin.
Series Prediction: Pacers in six.
How to Watch New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
Tonight’s Knicks-Pacers game tips off just after 8:00 PM Eastern. The game airs live on TNT and streams on the TNT app and website, as well as Max, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, and YouTube TV.
Knicks vs. Pacers
Date and Time: Sunday, May 25, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
TV: TNT
Streaming: TNT app and website, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, YouTube TV
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