Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks

The Indiana Pacers, who lead the series 2-0, are at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game Three of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks on Monday.

Since just two wins are left before the hosts clinch a spot in the NBA final, a win would put them close to finishing the job, leaving the away side in serious trouble.

Indiana continued their dominance at Madison Square Garden by beating the Knicks 114-109 in Saturday’s Game Two and now lead the series.

Rick Carlisle's teams are experts at turning games around, but their win last time was easier since they led for almost all 29 minutes.

During a game when no other Pacer reached 20+ points, Pascal Siakam set his career playoff high with 39 points, thanks to hitting 15 of 23 shots from the field.

Even so, the Pacers pulled this achievement off as a team, being the first in playoff history for any NBA team to have their starters all hit three points, come up with a steal and have no more than two turnovers during one game.

As the team enjoys loud support at home, it is also clear from history that no league team to start out the conference finals with two road wins has lost that series.

The home team has been formidable in the postseason, boasting a 4-1 record across their five playoff games on their own court. Another win in front of their fans would put them just one step away from competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks—who stunned the defending champion Boston Celtics—were once considered favorites to win the Eastern Conference. Now, they find themselves in a dire situation, trailing 0-2 as they head to Indiana, needing a near-miracle to turn the series around.

Their Game 1 loss was particularly painful, a game they let slip away, but they were simply outplayed in Game 2. Jalen Brunson delivered a stellar performance with 36 points and 11 assists, both team highs, while Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 20 points—yet it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.

The Knicks now hope to make history by becoming the first team since the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder (who overcame the San Antonio Spurs) to erase a 2-0 deficit in the conference finals. However, their recent record at Monday’s venue is concerning—just one win in their last six visits. The lone bright spot? That victory came during their most recent trip three months ago.