Knicks Rally Past Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals Game 3

During the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, Charles Barkley faced criticism for prematurely declaring the New York Knicks' Game 3 defeat against the Indiana Pacers before the Knicks rallied to win. Barkley had dismissed the Knicks' chances at halftime, stating they couldn't beat the Pacers playing fast, but the team staged a significant comeback led by Karl-Anthony Towns' 20-point fourth quarter performance. Barkley later praised Towns for his clutch play but expressed strong reservations about coach Tom Thibodeau's decision to change the starting lineup by replacing Josh Hart with Mitchell Robinson for Game 3. Barkley argued that the lineup tweak, especially playing two big men together, would slow the team down and worsen defensive mismatches, a view shared by some analysts despite Robinson's solid performance off the bench. The Knicks’ victory in Game 3 kept them alive in the series, preventing a 3-0 deficit, with Game 4 scheduled in Indiana. Barkley's candid and sometimes controversial commentary has sparked lively debate among fans and analysts about the Knicks' strategy and playoff prospects.