Halftime Rewind: Pacers 63, Knicks 58 (Game 3)

Friday, May 10 at 8:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

After dropping two games at Madison Square Garden to open the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pacers were hoping to bounce back in Game 3 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

They got off to a strong start on Friday and took a 63-58 lead into halftime.

All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was outstanding in the opening half, scoring 23 points while going 9-for-14 from the field and 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Pascal Siakam added 12 points and four rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting.

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The Pacers made a defensive adjustment for start of Game 3, putting the bigger wing Aaron Nesmith on Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson instead of Andrew Nembhard.

Though New York scored the first points of the evening on a second-chance three by Josh 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.

Turner tallied 12 points, three rebounds, and two blocks in the first half, while Nesmith added eight points going 3-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3-point range.

DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 15 points while going 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Brunson and Burks each added 13 points for New York.

TV: ESPN – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

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

The Pacers and Knicks will meet again in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 12 at 3:30 PM ET. Find Tickets >>