The Eastern Conference Finals series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks shifts to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025, for a pivotal Game 3 after Indiana stormed into Madison Square Garden and snatched a commanding 2–0 lead. The Pacers stunned the Knicks with a 121–107 win in Game 1 and followed it up with a resounding 121–89 blowout in Game 2, leaving New York reeling and searching for answers on both ends of the floor. With the Pacers’ depth and pace overwhelming the Knicks’ defensive identity, Rick Carlisle’s squad heads home with a golden opportunity to move one win away from the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. Indiana’s success has been driven by its offensive cohesion, led by Tyrese Haliburton’s elite distribution and Pascal Siakam’s veteran presence, including a dominant 39-point performance in Game 2 that completely tilted the series. The Pacers have maintained relentless pace, forced mismatches in transition, and buried the Knicks with three-point shooting and efficient ball movement, exploiting New York’s slow defensive rotations and lack of size at key moments. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has done everything he can, scoring 79 points combined through two games, but with minimal help from the supporting cast and porous team defense, his heroics have not been enough to keep the games close.

Coach Tom Thibodeau is reportedly considering a lineup change for Game 3, including possibly starting Mitchell Robinson over Josh Hart to give the team more rim protection and better match up with Indiana’s frontcourt. Karl-Anthony Towns has become a defensive liability, often targeted in pick-and-rolls and struggling to anchor the defense in Hart’s absence or when Julius Randle isn’t healthy. The Knicks, however, do have one potential edge: their road form. They went 24–17 away during the regular season and are 5–1 on the road in the playoffs, showing an ability to lock in and execute in hostile environments. That road toughness will be tested by a Pacers team that went 29–11 at home during the season and is 6–0 in Indianapolis this postseason. The matchup statistics lean slightly toward Indiana as well: the home team has covered in four of the last six meetings, and the Pacers’ balanced scoring has outclassed the Knicks’ increasingly stagnant offense. If the Knicks can limit turnovers, get consistent production from secondary scorers like Donte DiVincenzo and Miles McBride, and slow the pace to drag Indiana into more halfcourt sets, they’ll have a chance to claw their way back into the series. For Indiana, maintaining pace, continuing to exploit mismatches, and getting even modest production from their bench could be enough to bury New York and all but end the series. Game 3 is a clear tipping point—either the Knicks find a way to punch back and make this a fight, or the Pacers take full control and begin writing their ticket to the NBA Finals.