The New York Knicks are staring down the barrel of a 3-1 deficit after dropping Game 4 to the Indiana Pacers in a high-octane 130-121 loss, and the mood in Knicks Nation is grim. Despite New York’s offense humming—putting up 121 points, consistent with their series-long scoring punch—it wasn’t enough to match the Pacers’ relentless attack, led by Tyrese Haliburton’s historic 36-point, 10-assist night. But the real gut-punch came late in the game when star center Karl-Anthony Towns went down with a scary left knee injury, casting a shadow over the Knicks’ already steep climb. For more details on the game, check the sports card above.
With just 3:05 left in the fourth, Towns collided knee-to-knee with Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith while contesting a shot, crumpling to the floor in obvious pain. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd fell silent as Towns stayed down, clutching his left knee—the same one that’s been a nagging issue this season, with patellar tendinopathy sidelining him briefly in December. He eventually got up, limping heavily, but gutted it out to finish the game. Postgame, Towns brushed off questions about the injury, his focus locked on the loss. “I’m only thinking about the loss,” he said, per the article. “It’s disappointing when you don’t get a win, and we didn’t do enough to get the job done tonight.” That’s classic Towns—putting team over self, even as he hobbled into the press conference with a noticeable limp.
Towns still delivered, dropping 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds, a stat line that mirrors his Game 3 heroics where he erupted for 20 points in the fourth to fuel a 106-100 comeback win. But the knee issue was evident all night, limiting his mobility, and the Nesmith collision made it worse. Coach Tom Thibodeau called it a “good sign” that Towns stayed in, but he’s being evaluated further, with no clear timeline for Game 5. X posts from fans reflect the anxiety, with
@KnicksNation writing, “KAT’s knee is our season—if he’s not 100%, we’re cooked.” Another user,
@NYKFanatic, added, “Towns is our rock. Praying he’s okay for Game 5.”
The Knicks’ backs are against the wall. Trailing 3-1, they need three straight wins—starting with Game 5 at Madison Square Garden—to steal the series and reach the NBA Finals. Indiana’s offense, averaging 120.5 points per game in the series, is firing on all cylinders, with Haliburton, Pascal Siakam (22 points in Game 4), and Myles Turner (18 points) proving tough to contain. New York’s defense, which clamped down in Game 3, fell apart in Game 4, allowing 50% shooting and 14-of-29 from three. Jalen Brunson’s 29 points and Miles McBride’s 16 off the bench kept the Knicks in it, but they couldn’t stop Indy’s late 12-2 run, sealed by Haliburton’s dagger three.
If Towns is hobbled, the Knicks’ chances feel like a long shot. He’s their second-leading scorer (22.8 PPG in the playoffs) and top rebounder (9.5 RPG), and his ability to stretch the floor with 39% three-point shooting pulls defenses apart. Without him at full strength, Indy’s bigs—Turner and Siakam—could dominate the paint, and New York’s already-thin frontcourt.
Still, there’s hope. MSG’s electric crowd could spark a Game 5 turnaround, and Towns has shown he can play through pain—he gutted out a thumb injury earlier this postseason. Thibodeau’s postgame message was defiant: “We’ve got to regroup and come back stronger,” per Matty Breisch. The Knicks’ 34-21 regular-season record proves they’ve got fight, and Brunson’s clutch gene is undeniable. Fans on X are rallying, with one posting, “KAT and JB will drag us back. One game at a time.”
The next few days are critical. Towns’ knee will be under a microscope as the Knicks prepare for Thursday’s do-or-die Game 5. If he can suit up and deliver, New York’s got a shot to make history. If not, their season—and their Finals dreams—might end sooner than anyone in the Big Apple wants to admit.
