Indiana Pacers Shock the NBA: How Their Mid-Season Surge Is Rewriting the 2025 Playoff Picture

Indiana is buzzing with blue-and-gold energy as the Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight for Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. After stealing the first two games at Madison Square Garden—including a 114-109 nail-biter in Game 2—the Pacers hold a commanding 2-0 series lead. The matchup caps an already historic sports day in Indianapolis, arriving just hours after the 109th running of the Indy 500 and giving the Circle City a rare “doubleheader” on the national stage. The atmosphere promises to be electric as Tyrese Haliburton orchestrates the league’s fastest offense, Pascal Siakam continues his postseason surge, and Myles Turner protects the rim against Jalen Brunson and a bruised but resilient Knicks squad. Key storylines to watch • Pace vs. grit: Indiana leads the NBA in fast-break points, but New York’s physical half-court defense forced 16 turnovers in Game 2. Expect coach Rick Carlisle to emphasize early offense while deploying Siakam at center in select lineups to stretch Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson. • Haliburton’s health: The All-Star guard tweaked his ankle late in Game 2 but practiced fully on Saturday. His playmaking (24 assists through two games) remains the engine of Indiana’s league-best 123.4 playoff offensive rating. • Bench battle: T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin have outscored New York’s reserves 58-31 so far. Tom Thibodeau may turn to veteran scorer Bojan Bogdanović for an offensive spark. What a win would mean A Game 3 victory would push the Pacers to a 3-0 advantage, a deficit no NBA team has ever overcome in a best-of-seven series. More importantly, it would move Indiana one win away from its first Finals appearance since the Reggie Miller era of 2000, validating the franchise’s bold mid-season trade for Siakam and its commitment to a turbo-charged style that bucks conventional postseason wisdom. Tip-off, broadcast and tickets Game 3 tips at 8:30 p.m. ET and will air nationally on ABC; local fans can stream via Bally Sports+ or the ESPN app. Limited standing-room tickets remain on the team’s official site, but resale prices are soaring above \$500 as Central Indiana embraces its basketball roots. Search interest in “Pacers playoff tickets,” “Knicks vs Pacers Game 3,” and “Eastern Conference Finals schedule” has spiked this week, underscoring the nationwide appetite for one of the NBA’s classic rivalries renewed. Bottom line With a 2-0 cushion, home-court advantage, and downtown Indy already in celebration mode, the Indiana Pacers are perfectly positioned to seize control of the series. If Haliburton’s ankle holds and Carlisle’s squad maintains its break-neck tempo, the Fieldhouse could witness a defining moment in franchise history tonight.