Knicks Shake Up Strategy to Boost Eastern Conference Finals Odds

INDIANAPOLIS — Imagine if I said that in a critical Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks would deploy a starting lineup they hadn’t utilized throughout the entire season?

Or introduce a trio of players who had not shared any game time before this?

Or pull off a comeback victory with Jalen Brunson on the court for less than three minutes during the final quarter?

Indeed, they did.

Knicks 106, Pacers 100.

Now, the series is really heating up.

Frankly, the Knicks had no right to claim this victory. Truly—none. Sure, the Pacers gave the Knicks a few openings early on. Brunson put up 11 points in the first quarter alone. Mitchell Robinson, in his first start of the playoffs, added six points.

Despite this, the Pacers were ahead by four at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 13 by halftime. Terry Crews, who was courtside, celebrated their performance. Timothée Chalamet looked disheartened. The crowd, still buzzing from the Indianapolis 500, anticipated a decisive 3-0 lead for the Pacers in the series.

But it wasn’t to be. That 13-point gap was reduced to 10 after three quarters and completely erased within the first four minutes of the fourth. Karl-Anthony Towns exploded with 20 points in the final period alone. Josh Hart’s performance, with a team-high plus-16, was pivotal. Brunson, despite being plagued by foul trouble, managed to add six points. After witnessing the Pacers’ unlikely comeback in Game 1, the Knicks flipped the script, outscoring the Pacers 36-20 in the last quarter to secure the win.

“You might think it’s cliché when I say no lead is secure,” remarked Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “But it’s true.”

Indeed, the Knicks have been full of surprises this season. This occasion was particularly noteworthy. Consider the lineup changes. Tom Thibodeau’s lineups are usually as predictable as death and taxes. The Knicks used fewer starting lineups than any other team this season. Their regular lineup—Brunson, Towns, Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby—topped the NBA in minutes played, a trend that continued into the playoffs. To ask Thibs to adjust his lineup is akin to asking him to change a part of his identity.

Yet, he made changes. Robinson was in; Hart was benched. Hart took it well. “I can’t talk about sacrifice and putting the team before personal goals, then get upset when a decision like this is made,” Hart said before the game. He even suggested he was involved in the decision. It didn’t impact his playing time, though. Hart played 34 minutes—about his average for the postseason—including all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter.

“To me, when Mitch comes off the bench, he’s essentially a starter. Same goes for Josh,” explained Thibodeau. “Their playing time remains consistent.”

Granted, but what about Delon Wright receiving around 13 minutes? Landry Shamet logging slightly over 11 minutes? Wright’s playoff experience had been limited to a few insignificant minutes in Game 3 against Boston. Shamet had played sparingly in earlier rounds, never more than 10 minutes in Game 1 against Detroit.

Yet there was Wright, entering late in the first quarter. And Shamet, seeing significant action in the second quarter. If Tyler Kolek had checked in, Thibodeau might have needed a check-up himself. Before Sunday, Wright, Shamet, and Hart hadn’t spent a single minute on the court together. They logged nine minutes in Game 3, posting an offensive rating of 127.8 and a net rating of 21.9.

“Their professionalism and willingness to do whatever it takes to win stood out,” said Brunson. “We have a close-knit team, and the way everyone prepared and stayed positive despite the deficit, and continued to fight back, really says a lot about what they accomplished tonight.”

The Knicks’ bench, with Deuce McBride scoring nine points, kept them competitive. And then Towns clinched the victory. Towns had a rough first half, scoring only four points with six rebounds and committing two turnovers. He was 2-for-7 from the floor and missed both his three-point attempts. On TNT, Shaquille O’Neal criticized Towns’s choice of shots, saying, “We’d be fighting in the locker room right now.”

The Knicks’ locker room was devoid of conflict. No accusations were made. As disappointing as the first half was, New York felt fortunate to be only down by 13. The mood was upbeat, Brunson noted. “We could have easily turned against one another,” he said. “But we came together as a team and made sure to encourage each other, reminding ourselves that it wasn’t over.”

In the fourth quarter, with Brunson sidelined, Towns took the reins. He attacked the basket, took three-point shots, and made free throws. “A silent assassin out there,” Robinson commented. Myles Turner had dominated Towns for much of this series. Yet, in the critical moments, Towns outplayed him. The game was tied when Brunson reentered with 97 seconds remaining. He quickly scored a floater, giving the Knicks a lead they maintained until the end.

“This team has demonstrated its excellence throughout the year,” Towns remarked. “We showed our resilience in the Detroit and Boston series. Tonight, we displayed our never-give-up spirit. It’s a reflection of everyone in this locker room.”

The Knicks effectively saved their season on Sunday, at least temporarily. Now, the pressure shifts back to Indiana. Despite several dramatic comebacks in these playoffs, the Pacers found it challenging to maintain their lead. Tyrese Haliburton was only 2-for-8 from three-point range. Often, he seemed content to play a secondary role. When favorable matchups presented themselves, he hesitated to take advantage.

“A lot of our offensive issues in the second half were my fault,” Haliburton admitted. “I need to improve, and I will do so in Game 4.”

The Pacers were eager to play at home in Game 3. They might not be as enthusiastic about Game 4. Knicks fans are known to travel well. A daunting 2-0 series deficit might have deterred some from traveling to Indiana. However, the opportunity to even the series will likely see them flocking to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in droves, ready to dine at St. Elmo and cheer on their team.

The Pacers still lead the series. They still hold the home court advantage, boast greater depth, and remain the favorites to win. But the Knicks have seized momentum in Game 3. They are poised to build on this in Game 4. New York has breathed new life into the Eastern Conference finals.