Karl-Anthony Towns' Fourth Quarter Explosion Sparks Knicks Revival
Anyone who thought the Knicks' playoff run was about to unravel got a loud wake-up call from Karl-Anthony Towns. On a night when the team needed answers, Towns delivered one of his most commanding performances yet, finishing with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and a dose of late-game heroics that reignited New York’s postseason hopes against the Indiana Pacers.
This wasn’t just a good night—it was a full-on takeover. Towns erupted for 20 points in the fourth quarter alone, transforming a dicey situation into a 106-100 comeback win. The Madison Square Garden crowd could feel the momentum swing as the Knicks clawed back from an early deficit, their star center hitting tough shots and crashing the boards with fierce determination. That explosive final frame didn’t just pad his stats; it gave the Knicks exactly what they needed to hang on in a fiercely contested Eastern Conference series.
Indiana still leads, 2-1, but after Game 3, it’s clear that Towns is more than up for this fight. His night wasn’t just about persistence around the rim. He mixed it up with 3-of-7 shooting from deep, stretching the defense and daring Indiana’s bigs to step outside of their comfort zones. Every time Pacers coach Rick Carlisle tried to answer with a defensive switch, Towns either forced his way inside or drew a crucial foul. He logged eight made baskets on 17 attempts, each bucket seeming to make the Pacers’ defense more uncomfortable.
Towns Forces Pacers to Reconsider Their Strategy
The ripple effect of Towns’ dominance couldn’t be missed. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had his moments—he led the team with 20 points—but the Pacers’ inability to contain the Knicks’ big man became glaring as the game hit crunch time. Normally, Haliburton’s playmaking sets the tone for Indiana, but in the fourth quarter, all eyes shifted to Towns as he threaded together tough finishes and surged for key rebounds.
Rebounds can often be overlooked in the box score, but Towns’ 15 boards, including several late in the game, made certain the Pacers didn’t get second chances. On offense, his willingness to step outside and shoot from range forced Indiana’s defense to stretch thin, opening up driving lanes for Knicks guards and taking pressure off New York’s perimeter shooters.
- Shot 8-of-17 from the field
- 3-of-7 from three-point land
- 15 total rebounds, controlling the glass
- Unmatched intensity in the fourth quarter with 20 points
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t try to hide the strategy shift; Towns is now the clear offensive anchor. His impact in this pivotal win didn’t just show up in his numbers—it’s the way he powered through contact, banged down low with Indiana’s bigs, and forced the Pacers to reimagine their own game plan.
The playoffs are full of momentum swings, but this one felt seismic. The Knicks head into Game 4 with swagger, the Pacers have some quick thinking to do, and Towns, suddenly, looks every bit the guy ready to change the story of this series.
