About this Episode
"In this episode of Podcasty NBA, hosts Niko and Stella analyze the gripping Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers after three intense games. They discuss key moments from Game 3 including Indiana's shooting struggles, Aaron Nesmith's ankle injury, Jalen Brunson's defensive challenges, and Karl-Anthony Towns' dominating performance late in the game. The hosts explore coaching decisions like Thibodeau's management of player fouls and how both teams are adapting strategically as they vie for an NBA Finals berth. Based on Michael Pina's detailed coverage from The Ringer (theringer.com), this episode offers a thorough breakdown of what makes this series so compelling."
Article Discussed: "Knicks-Pacers Is Baffling—and Hopefully Going the Distance - The Ringer"
Author:
https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/26/nba/new-york-knicks-indiana-pacers-game-3-nba-playoffs-2025
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Episode Transcript
Niko: Welcome back to Podcasty NBA! Today, we're diving into the thrilling twists of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. After three intense games, this series has been a rollercoaster of emotions with both teams feeling like they're just one win away from the NBA Finals.
Stella: Absolutely, Niko. It's been a series marked by blown leads, heroic comebacks, and heartbreaking moments. Indiana currently leads 2-1 but has only outscored New York by two points across those games. The intrigue keeps growing as both teams continue to expose each other's weaknesses.
Niko: Let's break down Game 3 specifically. The Pacers suffered a tough loss despite leading by as much as 20 points midway through the second quarter. Key factors included their poor shooting from beyond the arc—just 5 for 25—and an ankle sprain to Aaron Nesmith. Plus, Tony Bradley was tasked with guarding Karl-Anthony Towns late in the game, which didn’t go well for them.
Stella: Right, and that injury to Nesmith definitely hurt Indiana's depth on the floor. Meanwhile, Towns took advantage of mismatches in the fourth quarter, scoring efficiently with an 85.9% true shooting percentage and a usage rate of 48.1%. The Pacers struggled to send help when Turner or Bradley guarded him, which proved costly.
Niko: Another interesting storyline was Jalen Brunson’s rough night defensively for New York. He picked up his fourth foul early in the second quarter and played some of his worst defense we've seen in these playoffs. But Coach Thibodeau made a crucial call by sitting Brunson almost entirely in the fourth quarter while he had five fouls on him.
Stella: That decision seemed pivotal because it limited Brunson’s exposure on defense when he was vulnerable. Despite his struggles—going 6-for-18 from the floor with three turnovers—he still finished with 23 points. It shows how important he is to this Knicks team even when he's not at his best defensively.
Niko: Indiana also got creative exploiting Brunson's defensive lapses throughout the game, using ball screens and cross-matches to punish him repeatedly. Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated some clever plays involving screens and flare actions that really exposed him on defense.
Stella: Yes, but despite all that pressure on Brunson’s defense, it was ultimately New York's adjustments—like sitting him late and leveraging Towns’ dominance—that helped them escape with a win in Game 3. Still, this series is far from decided; both teams have shown resilience and adaptability.
Niko: To sum up, after three games we have a tightly contested series where both sides have revealed vulnerabilities but also strengths worth noting: Indiana’s ability to build big leads and exploit defensive mismatches; New York’s resilience and strategic coaching moves like managing player fouls effectively.
Stella: Looking ahead, Game 4 promises more adjustments as both teams try to outmaneuver each other tactically. With injuries like Nesmith’s ankle sprain still looming and key players like Bennedict Mathurin poised to make an impact, this series could very well go the distance. Thanks for tuning into Podcasty NBA—we’ll be back soon with more playoff insights!
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