The New York Knicks recently played Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers, and it was an intense matchup filled with thrilling moments. However, it was Kenny Smith’s clever one-liner about Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau that truly captured the spotlight and set off a frenzy among fans on social media after the game.
After the first half of the game, the Pacers grabbed a commanding 13-point lead. Meanwhile, the TNT Crew dissected what went wrong for the Knicks during those opening minutes. And then, TNT’s Kenny Smith chimed in with a hilarious one-liner that pointed out Thibodeau’s coaching missteps.
“Thibodeau wouldn’t play nine guys in a baseball game,” Smith said.
“Thibodeau wouldn’t play nine guys in a baseball game.” 😅 pic.twitter.com/XUAuxAgSN5
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 26, 2025
Despite falling behind in the first half, the Knicks roared back during the second half and ultimately clinched an essential victory.
Charles Barkley’s Take On Tom Thibodeau’s Rotational Decisions
Jalen Brunson truly dazzled in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, playing for an impressive 31 minutes while racking up 23 points, one assist, and two rebounds. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns made his mark too, nailing a double-double with 24 points and a whopping 15 rebounds. These outstanding performances powered the Knicks to a thrilling 106-100 victory over the Pacers.
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After the game, Charles Barkley shared some insights during the post-game interview, diving into Tom Thibodeau’s playing rotation.
Barkley: “Your bench technically won this game for y’all tonight. You got to admit it’s kinda damn wacky”
Brunson: “Ooh I had a great comeback, but I’m let me stop”
Chuck: "Your bench technically won this game for y'all tonight. You got to admit it's kinda damn wacky"
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 26, 2025
Jalen: "Ooh I had a great comeback, but I'm let me stop" 😂 pic.twitter.com/ikKhe9HZkg
The Knicks made a crucial comeback in the Eastern Conference Finals series with their Game 3 win. They will play Game 4 of the series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Also Read: Tom Thibodeau Hilariously Shuts Down Knicks Injury Concerns With Classic Deadpan Delivery
