New York Knicks Trade Rumors Explode: Potential Blockbuster Deal Could Shift NBA Power—Latest Updates Today

The New York Knicks roared back from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to stun the Indiana Pacers 109-104 in Game 3 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, slicing the series margin to 2-1 and reigniting title hopes at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson poured in 18 of his 34 points in the final 12 minutes, shredding Indiana’s drop coverage with step-back threes and bruising drives. Julius Randle added 27 points and 12 boards, bullying mismatches in the low post after coach Tom Thibodeau went small to spark the rally. The Knicks’ defense, listless early, flipped the script by holding the Pacers to 13 fourth-quarter points and forcing six turnovers during a decisive 21-4 run. Indiana appeared in complete control when Tyrese Haliburton’s transition triple pushed the lead to 84-64 midway through the third. But New York ratcheted up on-ball pressure, funneled drives toward Mitchell Robinson, and dared the Pacers’ secondary shooters to beat them. Obi Toppin’s corner three finally drew the visitors even at 96-all with 4:02 remaining, setting up a frenzied finish. Key Sequence • 3:15 left: Brunson strips Haliburton at mid-court, converts an and-one layup for the Knicks’ first lead, 99-98. • 1:27 left: Donte DiVincenzo drills a transition three, capping an 11-0 spurt and silencing Gainbridge Fieldhouse. • :09 left: Randle wrestles the rebound off a missed Bennedict Mathurin jumper and sinks two free throws to ice it. Why It Matters • First ECF road win since 1999: New York hadn’t grabbed a conference-final victory away from home in 26 years, underscoring how far this group has come. • Momentum shift: Teams that trail 2-1 after winning Game 3 on the road have advanced 39% of the time since 2010, compared to just 18% after falling behind 3-0. • Defensive adjustment: Thibodeau benched shot-averse center Isaiah Hartenstein for extended stretches, letting Randle operate as a small-ball five that spread Indiana out and neutralized Myles Turner’s rim protection. Player Reactions Brunson on the comeback: “We’ve taken punches all postseason. The key is to keep swinging until the horn.” Turner: “We lost our edge. We have to match their physicality for 48 minutes or this series flips fast.” What’s Next Game 4 tips Tuesday night in Indianapolis. A Knicks win would knot the series at 2-2 heading back to New York; a Pacers bounce-back would push New York to the brink. Search-Friendly Takeaways • New York Knicks comeback vs Pacers Game 3 • 2025 Eastern Conference Finals score and highlights • Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle lead Knicks rally • NBA Playoffs schedule: Game 4 date and time Fans searching for “Knicks vs Pacers Game 3 highlights,” “Knicks 20-point comeback,” or “2025 NBA playoffs Eastern Finals update” will find the latest chapter in New York’s postseason resurrection—and the stage set for a pivotal Game 4 showdown.