The New York Knicks are expected to make a significant lineup change in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers. According to ESPN’s Chris Herring and Shams Charania, coach Tom Thibodeau plans to replace wing Josh Hart with backup center Mitchell Robinson in the starting five. This would be the first alteration to the Knicks’ starting lineup all season when all players are healthy and available.
Thibodeau’s current starters—Hart, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns—have logged a league-high 914 minutes together. The team aims to become the first since the 1987 Boston Celtics to lead the NBA in starters’ minutes and still reach the Finals. After falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Knicks are seeking ways to adjust.
Game 2 saw Pascal Siakam score 39 points, leading Indiana to a 114-109 victory on the Knicks’ home court. Despite a strong 36-point night from Brunson and 20 points each from Bridges and Towns, New York struggled defensively in the fourth quarter. Robinson’s increased minutes helped the Knicks stay close, as he pulled down nine rebounds and provided second-chance opportunities.
Hart, who averages 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game this postseason, will move to the bench, while Robinson, with averages of 4.1 points and 7.1 rebounds off the bench, will start at center. The move suggests a focus on bolstering defense and rebounding against Indiana’s aggressive offense.
The Pacers, shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from three-point range in Game 2, forced the Knicks into a sluggish fourth quarter where Indiana went on a 13-4 run to take control. With the series shifting to Indianapolis, the Knicks face a steep challenge to avoid a 3-0 deficit that no team has overcome in conference finals history.
Game 3 tips off Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with New York hoping that the lineup tweak will spark a turnaround and keep their Finals hopes alive.
