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Jordan Morey

Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden

The Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks has morphed into a best-of-three games series.

Sixth-seeded Indiana will get another crack at taking a game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday after the Blue & Gold evened their playoff series with the No. 2 New York Knicks, 2-2, over the weekend in Indianapolis.

Indiana enters Game 5 with their most convincing victory over the Knicks yet: a 121-89 thrashing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

After leading by 20 points at the end of the first quarter of Game 4, the Pacers never let off the gas. At halftime,&nbsp;Indiana held a 69-51 advantage before the lead ballooned to 43 points in the second half.&nbsp;

Both sides emptied their benches in the fourth quarter, treating the final frame as a mere formality.

The 32-point win was just two points away from tying the&nbsp;largest&nbsp;margin of victory in a Pacers playoff win ever, and the biggest win by the Blue & Gold in the 2024 postseason.

The Pacers shot 56.8 percent as a team overall (45.2 percent from 3-point range) in Game 4 and held the Knicks to 33.7 percent from the field, including 7-for-37 from deep.

Six Pacers finished in double-digit scoring, led by 20 points from Tyrese Haliburton in 28 minutes and 15 points by T.J. McConnell off the bench. McConnell also dished out 10 assists to record his second postseason double-double ever.

Haliburton’s dominant play has proven vital to the Pacers' recent success. After a rough Game 1, where he only scored six points on as many shot attempts, Haliburton has averaged 29.7 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over his last three games.

Indiana’s team defense made headlines in Game 4, especially for limiting Knicks volume scorer Jalen Brunson to 18 points on 6-for-17 shooting. No other Knicks player in the starting lineup recorded more than eight points in the game, and Alec Burks posted 20 points off the bench, while Miles McBride had 16 points in 32 minutes.

Brunson, who has carried the Knicks’ offensive load all season, has seen his scoring numbers decrease each time out since logging 43 points in Game 1. His 18 points on Sunday were a playoff low for him.

Like every other game in the series thus far, both teams will keep an eye on the injury report leading up to the tip of Game 5.

The Knicks could be without ex-Indiana University Hoosier OG Anunoby for a third straight game on Tuesday, as he continues recovering from a calf injury sustained during Game 2. When Anunoby plays, the Knicks are 26-5 this season, including 2-0 against&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacers in the playoffs.

RELATED: Pacers Not Getting Too High Despite Complete Performance in Game 4 >>

If the Pacers can win Game 5 at MSG, they will feel like they're in prime position to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999 season.&nbsp;

Game 6 will occur in Indianapolis on Friday, and the&nbsp;Pacers are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. Indiana also&nbsp;hasn't&nbsp;lost at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since March 18.

New York has lost just one game at home in the playoffs thus far: Game 5 in overtime against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 30.

Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner

Knicks: G - Jalen Brunson, G - Donte DiVincenzo, F - Josh Hart, F - Precious Achiuwa, C - Isaiah Hartenstein

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (low back spasms/sacral contusion/right ankle sprain), Aaron Nesmith - questionable (sore right shoulder,  Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Knicks: OG Anunoby - TBA (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic - out  (left foot surgery), Julius Randle - out (right shoulder surgery), Mitchell Robinson - out (left ankle stress injury)

May 12, 2024: Unlike the first three games in the series, the Pacers led from nearly start to finish in a 121-89 blowout win over the Knicks in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With the win, the Pacers stayed undefeated (5-0) at home in the playoffs.

The Pacers scored at least 32 points in&nbsp;each of&nbsp;the first three quarters to start the game, including leading 34-14 after the first frame.&nbsp;

Indiana’s&nbsp;lead swelled to 28 points at halftime before exploding to 43 in the second half. Both teams played their bench units for almost the entire fourth quarter.

The Pacers shot an outstanding 56.8 percent from the field while limiting the Knicks to 33.7 percent. The Pacers finished 14-for-31 from 3-point range, while the Knicks made just 7 of 37 attempts.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, T.J. McConnell had 15 points and&nbsp;10&nbsp;assists, and Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin&nbsp;each&nbsp;chipped in 14 point for the Blue & Gold.

Jalen Brunson scored 18 points in 31 minutes and Alec Burks scored 20 points off the bench for the visitors. Brunson was the only Knicks starter to hit double digits for points on the night.&nbsp;

The Pacers won the rebounding margin 52-43, had 31 assists as a team and outscored the Knicks 60-40 in the paint.&nbsp;

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

The Pacers will host the Knicks for Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, May 17. The time for Game 6 is TBD. Find Tickets >>

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Game Preview: Pacers at Knicks (Game 5)

At times, the Indiana Pacers' 2023-2024 season has resembled a rollercoaster ride.

During stretches of the regular season, the youthful group would beat a title contender one night before losing to a bottom-of-the-table team the next. Other weeks, the Blue & Gold would string together several wins and look like a top team in the Eastern Conference.

From leading the league in offense and making it to the In-Season Tournament Championship, to improving a bottom-tier defense and navigating fundamental roster changes, the Blue & Gold have ridden the waves of their current campaign together on the fly.

Despite inconsistencies, one thing has remained the same for this Pacers group: after each game, they would put the final result in the rearview mirror and keep their eyes ahead to the next matchup.

Chemistry and maturity take time and effort in the NBA, and experience has repeatedly proven vital to postseason success. And in an era where any team can erase a 15-point lead in the blink of an eye, it's never been more important to know how to win in various ways.

In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers took another step in the team's maturation process.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL:&nbsp;Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

Indiana led at halftime in the first three games of their series against the New York Knicks, but saw those leads disappear in all those games. Only in Game 3 did the Pacers weather the storm, coming back from down nine points in the fourth quarter to pull off a dramatic win.

What happened in Game 4 was the culmination of the current group playing 10 total playoff games together this spring.

In Game 4, the Pacers smothered the Knicks from tip to final buzzer, posting a 121-89 home-court win to even the series at 2-2.

Unlike almost every other playoff game this year – including in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks – the Pacers never gave their opponent a chance to come back, as they led the Knicks by 20 after the first quarter, 28 at halftime, and 38 going into the fourth quarter.

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Game Recap: Pacers 121, Knicks 89

If you were to talk to Pacers players and coaches after the win, however, you'd hardly know they dominated from start to finish. Postgame celebrations ended when the team broke the huddle in the locker room.

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is playing in his first-ever playoffs, perhaps described the team’s current mentality best: "Now we have to, truthfully, flush that one."

"It just feels good to get a win, but we have to understand that at the end of the day, all we did is our job and win two games at home," Haliburton said. "We understand the magnitude of Game 5, and we'll be prepared for that."

Like Haliburton, veteran backup point guard T.J. McConnell has been one of the key voices in helping the team stay focused, and his mentality has spilled over to his teammates.

"It's obviously great to take care of home court. Enjoy it now, but as soon as we leave this building, we've got to flush it and move on and show maturity on that end," McConnell said. "Because what we're walking into at (Madison Square Garden) is going to be a hellacious crowd and they play really well in front of them because it's a great fanbase. So we have to really be ready and locked in."

Part of the reason the Pacers traded for starting forward Pascal Siakam in the winter was for his playoff experience. Siakam won a title with Toronto in 2019, and has played on teams that have come back from down 0-2 in a series.

During the first round series agianst the Bucks, Siakam preached to his teammates to not get too high or too low, and he's maintained that in the semis. When the Pacers fell down 0-2, Siakam calm demeanor never wavered.

"It's 2-2. It counts as one," Siakam said of Game 4. "I thought our focus was good from the beginning. Playing with our pace and intensity is something that we need to do."

If this Pacers team advances to the Eastern Conference Finals, it will be the first time the Blue & Gold have overcome a 0-2 deficit in a seven-game series in franchise playoff history. Since 1994, this will also be the sixth time the Knicks and Pacers go at least six games in the last seven playoff matchups.

With the current Pacers group, they’re confident they can get the job done against the Knicks.

"The last two games we did our job," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We did what we needed to do. We protected home court…We're a team that's only halfway to our goal. We've got to understand that and have a great level of humility for what's coming on Tuesday night and be braced for it."

After playing the Knicks in Game 5 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers will host Game 6 on Friday. If there's a Game 7, it will take place in New York on Sunday.

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Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs. New York Knicks (Game 4) | May 12, 2024

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Pacers Not Getting Too High Despite Complete Performance in Game 4

Wheat Hotchkiss

Sunday, May 12 at 3:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The first three games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Pacers and the Knicks were full of drama and intrigue, with the two rivals exchanging runs throughout each night and each contest coming down to the final minute.

Game 4 on Sunday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was a vastly different story, though Pacers fans likely won't have any complaint about the end result.

The Pacers dominated New York from start to finish on Sunday. They led by 23 barely 10 minutes into Game 4, pushed the lead to 30 before halftime, and stretched the margin as high as 43 points in the second half, ultimately cruising to a 121-89 victory.

With the win, the Pacers evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Both teams held serve on their respective home courts this week, with the Knicks taking Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Wednesday before the Pacers responded with wins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday and Sunday.

The series will shift to New York once again for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton led six Pacers in double figures in the victory, tallying 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 27 minutes, going 8-for-15 from the field and 4-for-10 from 3-point range. Backup T.J. McConnell was just as good off the bench, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists in 21 minutes.

As a team, Indiana shot 56.8 percent from the field and went 14-for-31 (45.2 percent) from 3-point range. On the other end, they limited New York to just 33.7 percent shooting and just 7-for-37 (18.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

"We just handled business from start to finish and I think that’s part of the maturation of this group that we’ve talked about all year," Haliburton said. "Now we have to truthfully flush that one. Obviously watch film tomorrow, but take the good with the good, learn from the bad and be ready to go for Game 5 because that’s a big game."

The Pacers got off to a fast start from the jump on Sunday, as Haliburton knocked down his first two 3-point attempts and got a breakaway dunk to propel Indiana to a 14-4 lead.

The margin continued to grow from there as Myles Turner threw in a high-arcing three to beat the shot clock then scored on the next possession on a putback layup.

McConnell got into the paint the next two times down the floor, converting two layups, one of them a three-point play. He set up Obi Toppin for a jumper on the Pacers' next possession before Ben Sheppard and Toppin knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers.

The building was buzzing by that point, but the noise reached an even higher decibel after McConnell connected with Toppin for an alley-oop dunk that pushed Indiana's lead to 34-11 with 1:34 remaining in the opening frame.

It was 34-14 at the end of the first quarter, as the Pacers went 14-for-23 (60.9 percent from the field) and 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) from 3-point range, while the Knicks were just 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) and 1-for-8 (12.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

Pascal Siakam scored six points early in the second quarter to helped the Blue & Gold continue to grow the lead, then drove and kicked back to a wide-open McConnell, who swished a three from the top of the arc that put Indiana up 47-19 with 8:06 to play in the first half.

The Knicks reeled off six straight points from there, but that would be the closest they would get the remainder of the half, as the Pacers kept their feet on the gas. Haliburton scored Indiana's last five points of the half, including a step-back three that pushed the lead to 30 for the first time before Alec Burks hit two free throws in the final second that made it a 28-point margin at the break.

The Pacers weren't content to sit on that lead in the second half, instead coming out of the locker room intent on thwarting any Knicks hope for a comeback.

The Blue & Gold scored the first four points of the third quarter to push the lead to 32 points and threes later in the frame from Haliburton, Turner, and McConnell stretched the margin to 35, 36, and then 37 points.

McConnell and Toppin got the crowd on its feet once again with a little over three minutes to go in the third quarter, connecting on another alley-oop, with Toppin finishing this one with a two-hand reverse slam.

Aaron Nesmith's jumper with 22.4 seconds to play in the quarter pushed the lead to 38 at 101-63.

"The mentality was to play like we were down 20," Turner said of how the Pacers never let the Knicks back in the game. "In the NBA, it’s very easy for a 20-point lead to dissipate as quickly as it does. We never wanted to take the foot off the gas."

No starters saw the court for either team in the fourth quarter. Toppin's breakaway dunk on the opening possession pushed their lead to 40 for the first time. The only drama in the final frame was what the final margin would be.

Siakam finished with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Indiana, while Toppin also tallied 14 points off the bench. Turner added 13 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, going 5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 from 3-point range.

Third-year big man Isaiah Jackson finished with 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Burks had a team-high 20 points off the bench for the Knicks. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson scored 18 points, but struggled from the field, going 6-for-17 overall and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. Miles McBride tallied 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists off the bench for New York.

The Pacers and Knicks will meet again on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden for Game 5, which will take place at 8:00 PM ET on air nationally on TNT.

“The last two games we did our job," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We did what we needed to do. We protected home court…We’re a team that’s only halfway to our goal. We’ve got to understand that and have a great level of humility for what’s coming on Tuesday night and be braced for it."

The Pacers held New York to 89 points in Game 4, the lowest point total for a Pacers opponent in any game this season. The previous low was 90 points in a 109-90 win over the Lakers on March 29. It was the first time Indiana held an opponent under 90 points since they limited the Heat to 87 on Dec. 12, 2022.

The Pacers outscored the Knicks 60-40 in points in the paint and by another 21 points from 3-point range.

Haliburton reached 20 points for the third straight game. Over the last three games of the series, he is averaging 29.7 points and is 17-for-37 (45.9 percent) from 3-point range.

McConnell recorded his second double-double in his last three games. He had 10 points and 12 assists off the bench in Game 2.

After scoring just 14 bench points in Game 3, the Pacers' reserves scored 57 points in Game 4, including 27 in the first half.

Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo had scored 25 or more points in each of the first three games of the series, including 35 in Game 3 when he went 7-for-11 from 3-point range. The Pacers limited him to just seven points on 3-of-13 shooting (1-of-6 from beyond the arc) on Sunday.

Knicks forward Josh Hart had averaged 17.6 points and 15.3 rebounds over Games 1-3, but tallied only two points on 1-of-6 shooting and three boards in Game 4.

Despite the margin, the Knicks shot significantly more free throws than Indiana. New York went 22-for-31 (71 percent) from the charity stripe, while the Pacers were just 7-for-8 (87.5 percent).

“We had better concentration and focus. Our habits were better. Early we got some good opportunities in transition and they missed some shots. So we got a good start and were able to sustain a lot of good things throughout. But there’s such a long way to go here.” -Carlisle on the key to the win

“I thought it was a good win. It doesn’t really matter how it happened. It’s 2-2. It counts as one. I thought our focus was good from the beginning. Playing with our pace and intensity is something that we need to do." -Siakam on the victory

“Our disposition was great. Obviously we had a game plan (and went) out there and executed it. But I think it was a commitment by all of us tonight to go out there and really (defend) by committee. Guarding guys like Brunson, it’s not a one-man job. He’s a spectacular player, but we had to make sure we all come together and chip in.” -Turner on the team defense

“DiVincenzo is a great player. He’s had monster games throughout the playoffs, throughout the season. In the first game, we didn’t treat him like he was a great player. The urgency to take away forget about shots, but touches (was missing). The guy makes a lot of things happen. We did better there tonight.” -Carlisle on the defense on DiVincenzo

"Every time we’re at home, the energy that they bring to the game and how excited they are kind of fuels us to go out and play our best. When we have their support, we always play better. I like our chances here in front of this crowd. We just want to continue to perform well." -Siakam on the Pacers’ success at home so far in the playoffs

“Even when Myles isn’t scoring at some kind of clip that may at times be expected, he gives us a physical presence that we need, especially against New York. New York is a very physical team with (Isaiah) Hartenstein and (Precious) Achiuwa out there to start the game. He held his ground very well at the start of this game tonight. He did get three blocks. The chase-down block he had at the end of the last game made all the difference here.” -Carlisle on Myles Turner’s defensive importance

“T.J.’s one of our leaders. He’s really taken it upon himself to lead that second unit. He took full ownership for what happened last game. It’s very rare that that does happen. But I think he came out with a great spirit tonight and led those guys.” -Turner on T.J. McConnell

"Just his energy. When he checks in, there’s not many people in the NBA better at doing what he does, and that’s bringing energy off the bench...His energy is just contagious and everybody kind of flows off of that." –Haliburton on McConnell

The Pacers 32-point win was the third-largest playoff victory in franchise history. They had a 34-point win over Cleveland in Game 6 in the first round in 2018 and a 33-point victory over the Lakers in Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.

The Pacers travel to New York to take on the Knicks in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET.

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Game Rewind: Pacers 121, Knicks 89 (Game 4)

Whenever the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks meet in the playoffs, each game in the series has the potential to produce a moment that furthers the rivalry's lore.

Those core memories can be summed up in just a few words for Indiana fans, such as&nbsp; “eight points in nine seconds,” “the choke sign,” or “the Hibbert block.”

On Friday night in Indianapolis, two more highlights were added to the Pacers-Knicks postseason archives: the Myles Turner chase-down block and the Andrew Nembhard 31-footer.

Trailing 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pacers found themselves in a critical situation in the final minutes of Game 3.

After exchanging figurative and literal blows the entire game, the Pacers and Knicks were tied at 102 with 2:26 remaining after Knicks marathon man Josh Hart split free throws for the visitors.

On the ensuing possession, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton saw one of his passes intercepted by Hart, who then barreled down the floor toward the opposite basket for a layup.

As Haliburton chased down the streaking Knick in an attempt to slow him down, the Pacers’ franchise all-time block leader, Turner, ascended from behind Hart and pinned the shot attempt against the backboard, immediately leading to a transition bucket on the other end from Nembhard.

In a way, Turner’s clutch play was an homage to a former Pacer who was wearing his jersey on the sidelines, as his block came right in front of Roy Hibbert, who famously swatted Carmelo Anthony to help the Pacers advance to the  Eastern Conference Finals in 2013. Hibbert revved the crowd up on Friday before sitting courtside.

While Turner’s block won’t likely lead many highlight reels, his teammates and coaches knew just how vital that vicious denial was to the game – and possibly the entire series.

“I think there are certain plays that happen over the course of a series, and the course of a game, that can really change things,” Haliburton said of the Turner block. “…I think we’re going to remember that play, because I feel like that changed the game. It was a game-changing moment. I think it just speaks to how hard he played and the tone he set today.”

The Knicks didn’t retake the lead after Nembhard’s layup, but the visitors tied the game once again with 42 seconds on the clock after sharpshooter Jalen Brunson buried an improbable step-back 3-pointer.

On the ensuing possession, however, Nembhard made an even more hellacious shot.

In a broken play, Haliburton dumped the ball to Nembhard on the left side of the 3-point arc with around six seconds on the shot clock. Nembhard then briefly fumbled the ball, stepped back and drained a trey over Brunson from 31 feet — with 18 seconds left — to put the Blue & Gold ahead for good, sending the gold-out crowd into a frenzy. It proved to be the game-winning shot in a 111-106 victory.

The bucket was just the second for Nembhard on the night, with the former resulting from the Turner block. While finishing 2-for-8 from the field, Nembhard wasn’t afraid to step up when his team needed it most, like when he hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers during his rookie season.

“He’s one of our toughest guys, mentally and physically,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Nembhard. “He’s really gained a love for these types of moments and playing in this kind of stage, this kind of level of competition…The clock was down. Sometimes in those situations, it frees you up even more. He just laced it.”

Reflecting on the game's final two minutes, Nembhard said most of it was a blur, and that he “was just in the moment.”

“Basketball’s a game of many mistakes,” Nembhard said. “It’s about being neutral, not getting high or low based off good or bad plays. Just trying to move on and understand the next play’s the most important.”

Like Carlisle, Nembhard’s teammates weren’t surprised he came up clutch when the team needed him to.

“Andrew does so many things for us as a team, just fights every possession, picking up full court. He’s so valuable for us,” Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said. “Obviously, he wasn’t making shots or anything like that. But we have full trust in him, the work that he puts in. He’s a confident kid...Obviously it’s a tough shot, but if somebody’s going to make that, it’s going to be him. I just love everything about him and his focus.”

So far, each game in the Pacers-Knicks series has come down to the wire.

Indiana hasn’t lost a home game since March 18, compiling a 4-0 record in the playoffs. Buy your tickets today to help keep the home-court advantage going at Pacers.com/Playoffs.

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Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs. New York Knicks (Game 3) | May 10, 2024

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Nembhard, Turner Etch Names in Pacers-Knicks Postseason Lore

Friday, May 10 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

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Game Recap: Pacers 111, Knicks 106

Heroes are made in the playoffs. Pacers fans won't soon forget Andrew Nembhard's name after the second-year guard's heroics in Game 3 against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

With the game tied at 106 and under 40 seconds remaining, Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton took a three from right wing. He missed, but Aaron Nesmith was there to corral the rebound. They kicked the ball out to Haliburton who called for an isolation and dribbled down the shot clock.

But the Knicks sent a double-double Haliburton's way as the shot clock wound down, so he kicked to Nembhard on the left wing with just four seconds left on the shot clock.

The second-year guard was well beyond the 3-point line, but knew he had to hoist it quickly. Nembhard, who always carries himself with a calm demeanor, didn't panic.

Instead, he took a couple dribbles and stepped back from Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, hoisting a shot from 31 feet away. It swished through the net as the shot clock buzzer sounded with 16.4 seconds remaining, the decisive blow in a 111-106 Pacers win.

“I heard (Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau) yelling to double," Haliburton said. "I probably held the ball a little too long. I should have been more aggressive to attack the blitz. I put Drew in a kind of a bad situation. He just made an unbelievable shot, big shot. Just really stepped up to the moment when we needed him the most."

"When I got the ball, I didn’t really realize what the time was," Nembhard added. "…I just knew I had to get something off. Tried to create a little space and put it up."

It was a pivotal moment in a pivotal game, as the Pacers defended their home court after dropping the first two games of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series earlier this week at Madison Square Garden. Indiana will try to even the series when it hosts Game 4 on Monday.

The Pacers had led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter before rallying. They rallied to tie the game at 99 by the seven-minute mark and took a one-point lead after Pascal Siakam hit one of two free throws with 5:42 remaining.

That's where the score remained until Brunson hit a step-back jumper over Aaron Nesmith to put the Knicks back in front with 3:53 to play.

On the other end, Siakam drove and drew a foul on Brunson, then hit both free throws to retake the lead. The two teams traded misses on their next two possessions before Josh Hart attacked the basket and drew a foul on Siakam (the fifth for the Pacers forward). Hart hit one of two shots at the foul line to tie the game at 102 with 2:26 left.

On the other end, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton got caught in mid-air with no one to pass to and turned the ball over. It looked like Hart was going to score on the other end, but Myles Turner came out of nowhere to block the shot off the backboard. That triggered a fastbreak where Nembhard converted a layup to put Indiana in front.

Haliburton was whistled for a foul on Brunson on the other end, but the Knicks' All-Star guard came up short on his first free throw before hitting the second. Siakam added a layup with 54.1 seconds left to put Indiana up 106-103, but Brunson answered with a three on the other end to tie the game once again with 42.4 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for Nembhard's heroics. After a timeout, Brunson missed a potential game-tying three and Nesmith sealed the win at the free throw line.

Four starters scored in double figures for the Pacers in the victory, with Haliburton leading the way with 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting, (6-of-16 from 3-point range) and seven assists.

Siakam scored 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Turner tallied 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Nesmith finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Nembhard was the only starter to not reach double figures, but hit the biggest shot of the night. He finished with five points (all in the final two minutes), five rebounds, and six assists. He started 0-for-6 from the field, but his last two shots, both of which gave Indiana the lead.

RELATED: Nembhard, Turner Etch Names in Pacers-Knicks Postseason Lore >>

"Basketball’s a game of many mistakes," Nembhard said. "It’s about being neutral, not getting high or low based off good or bad plays. Just trying to move on and understand the next play’s the most important."

The Pacers made a defensive adjustment for start of Game 3, putting the bigger wing Nesmith on Brunson instead of Nembhard.

Though New York scored the first points of the evening on a second-chance three by Hart, Indiana's defense otherwise dominated the opening minutes. The Pacers capitalized, using a three by Nesmith and two from Haliburton to open up a 14-4 lead, limiting the Knicks to just a single point over a nearly four-minute span.

The Blue & Gold led 20-8 before the Knicks put together a 12-4 run to get back within four. But a Siakam layup and another Nesmith three closed the quarter to give Indiana a 29-20.

Indiana limited the Knicks to 7-of-19 shooting (36.8 percent) in the opening frame while also forcing six turnovers. Brunson went 1-for-5 with three turnovers.

The Knicks got their offense going in the ensuing frame, as Donte DiVincenzo scored seven straight points for the visitors during a 13-6 run that pulled New York within two.

That forced a timeout from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, but after the stoppage Alec Burks converted a three-point play to briefly put the visitors in front. But Myles Turner answered with a jumper on the other end and then Haliburton knocked down two threes on the next two Pacers possessions to start to rebuild the cushion.

A three from Turner pushed the lead to eight before the Knicks made another charge, this time reeling off 11 unanswered points (six from Brunson and five from Burks). The Pacers answered with a 9-0 spurt of their own, with Haliburton scoring the final seven, capping the sequence with his fifth 3-pointer of the first half.

The hosts remained in front up until halftime, with Siakam scoring Indiana's last six points to make it a 63-58 lead entering the intermission.

The Pacers were able to extend the lead early in the third quarter, using an 8-0 that featured back-to-back threes from Haliburton and Siakam and another Siakam jumper to push the margin to 77-66 with 7:31 remaining in the frame.

But the Knicks dominated the rest of the frame, outscoring Indiana 24-8 over the remainder of the quarter. DiVincenzo scored nine points during that run and 17 overall in the quarter as New York took a 90-85 lead into the fourth.

The Knicks had pushed their lead to 98-89 with under 10 minutes to play, when Haliburton drove and converted a floater while being knocked to the floor by New York guard Miles McBride. He made the free throw to complete a three-point play, then added another layup at 8:10 to draw Indiana within four.

On the other end, Haliburton darted in front of a Brunson pass and streaked down the floor for two more points.

After Brunson hit one of two free throws, Siakam spun around Hart and banked in a jumper through contact. The ensuing free throw tied the game at 99 with 6:58 to play.

It wasn't all pretty down the stretch, but the Pacers made enough key plays when it mattered to come away with the win.

"Just really proud of our guys," Carlisle said. "They’re going against a highly experienced, very tough-minded team that is very motivated. They put us in a big bind in the second half. Was really proud of the way our guys hung in, kept fighting, stayed the course, kept their emotions in check."

DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points, going 12-for-26 from the field and 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Brunson, who was listed as questionable after hurting his right foot in Game 2, had 26 points and six assists for New York in 38 minutes.

Burks scored 14 points off the bench, while Hart had a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds.

The two teams won't have long to rest ahead of Game 4, which is a mid-afternoon tip at 3:30 PM on Sunday.

"Whatever happens, you’ve got to wipe it clean," Carlisle said. "The next game is a completely new palate. You’ve just got to get ready to compete when that time comes."

Haliburton's 35 points one-upped his 34 points in Game 2 to become his new playoff career high. His 26 field goal attempts were the second most he's taken in any game in his career (he shot 28 times at Miami on Nov. 30). On Friday, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to score 30 or more points and make six or more threes in consecutive playoff games, joining a list that includes Stephen Curry (seven times), Donovan Mitchell (twice), James Harden, and Damian Lillard.

Siakam had his first 20-point game since scoring 36 and 37 points in the first two games of Indiana's first-round series against Milwaukee.

Turner surpassed 20 points for the fifth time this postseason while also recording his first double-double of the playoffs.

The Pacers outscored the Knicks 56-40 in the paint on Friday.

DiVincenzo's seven 3-pointers tied the Knicks franchise record for threes in a playoff game, tying a mark originally set by Derek Harper May 4, 1995 against Cleveland and matched by John Starks a week later in Indiana that same postseason.

Burks had played just one minute all posteason (in Game 2), but was forced into action on Friday after the Knicks lost starting forward OG Anunoby to a hamstring strain. The 13-year veteran rose to the occasion with 14 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, going 4-for-6 from the field, 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and 4-for-5 from the free throw line.

After playing all 48 minutes in both Game 1 and Game 2, Hart came out for the first time all series on Friday due to foul trouble. He still played 43:05 and pulled down 18 rebounds, all of them on the defensive end.

The Pacers had outscored the Knicks 92-15 in bench points over the first two games of the series, but New York's reserves actually outscored Indiana 24-14 on Friday, thanks to 14 points from Burks and 10 from McBride.

The Knicks led the NBA in offensive rebounding this season, but Indiana had 13 offensive boards to New York's 10 in Game 3 and outscored the Knicks 16-8 in second-chance points.

"Just digging in. Understanding our backs are against the wall. We’re here at home. Obviously they handled business getting both at home and everybody knows what it looks like when you go down 3-0. We had to come out and play desperate, play hard. The third quarter got us again. We've really been poor in these third quarters all series. We just didn’t let that deter us, and responded the right way in the fourth.” -Haliburton on the final stretch of the game

“They made a run. We just tried to communicate to the guys to just keep the focus. I thought there was a lot of big plays that the guys made. Just fighting, man, being resilient. We understand how hard these games are and how tough that team is. It’s going to take a lot. I thought that we dug deep and just kept fighting.” -Siakam on the Pacers’ comeback in the fourth quarter

“We made some good stops, had good rotations, we rebounded the ball going down the stretch. Tyrese was making plays, opening it up for a lot of guys. The middle screen with him and Pascal was really working.” -Nembhard on the Pacers’ comeback in the fourth quarter to erase a nine-point deficit

“He’s one of our toughest guys, mentally and physically. He’s really gained a love for these types of moments and playing in this kind of stage, this kind of level of competition…The clock was down. Sometimes in those situations, it frees you up even more. He just laced it.” -Carlisle on Nembhard’s big shot

"Andrew does so many things for us as a team, just fights every possession, picking up full court. He’s so valuable for us. Obviously, he wasn’t making shots or anything like that. But we have full trust in him, the work that he puts in. He’s a confident kid…Obviously it’s a tough shot, but if somebody’s going to make that, it’s going to be him. I just love everything about him and his focus." -Siakam on Nembhard’s shot

“You can’t give New York a recipe of the same thing over and over again. They’re going too adjust — Brunson’s too great a player. The idea was just change the matchup, give him a little more size. Aaron did as good a job I think as you can possibly do. Brunson’s so good. He’s the best scorer in the playoffs I believe. We had good timely help tonight, too.” -Carlisle on switching Nesmith onto Brunson for Game 3

“He adapts quickly. For a first-timer in the playoffs, he’s had to do some pretty significant adjusting in both series. Sometimes it’s you know you can score, but there’s a need to get other guys involved. Sometimes it’s the other way around, he knows we need his scoring…His aggression was very important in this game. Whether he’s scoring a lot of points or not, his aggression is going to be important in every game of this series.” -Carlisle on Haliburton’s big night

“It’s been awesome…The way he affects the game for us, it’s more than scoring. Obviously when you look at the scoreboard, he made a lot of threes and he scored a lot. But he’s an engine for us and he gets us going. His pace, the way he sees the game, how smart he is as a player…everything else he does for us as a team, that’s what makes us great.” -Siakam on Haliburton

“It’s been unbelievable in here. It’s been unbelievable , the energy. I think that our fans have just been itching for playoff basketball again, just like us. I think that’s the excitement in our city and that’s why everyone is so excited. Obviously just a lot of energy around basketball in Indiana right now, especially with the Fever and us. It’s really cool to see that energy in the building every game. They really willed us to a win tonight, to be honest. We’re just going to keep riding that train and hopefully they keep coming supporting us and we just keep performing the way we’re able to.”&nbsp; – Haliburton on the home crowd

“Just taking what’s there. I know it feels like we’ve been together for a while, but I think the guys are still learning about me…For me, the type of player that I am, it’s just continue to find my way in the flow of the game, understand that things are going to come. And knowing that it’s not just about scoring. I can make plays, just my energy, trying to find different ways (like) rebounding and staying active out there, that overall activity is probably going to help me a little bit more.” -Siakam on picking up his scoring in Game 3

"I think there are certain plays that happen over the course of a series, and the course of a game, that can really change things...I think we’re going to remember that play, because I feel like that changed the game. It was a game-changing moment. I think it just speaks to how hard he played and the tone he set today." -Haliburton on Turner's block in the final minutes

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