Going down 20 points in the third game of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks managed to pull one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history, and that certainly put them in the lead in the series at 2-1. Almost immediately, the conversation seemed to turn to the big point, “Who deserved it?”
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While Jalen Brunson was having one of those SportsCenter highlight reel types of nights, ever since the internet exploded with chatter, one rallying cry was that maybe the real hero was Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves star put up 29 points and nine rebounds and was pretty much responsible for the Knicks’ late surge, yet it was Bruno plastered all over the airwaves.
Shows Brunson is dumb,” one individual stated, and it flooded the replies. Another objection was “KAT did all the work and you put the flopper on the post. smh.” The backlash was not just about credit; it was tied into a greater feeling against how narratives get shaped in sports-media. “Typical ESPN, trying to spin a narrative,” sang another, “Where is KAT?”
The debate also fractured those on the other side. Optimistic Pacers supporters would argue, “Pacers haven’t yet won Game 3 in playoffs but have still won each series in 5 games.” They were then clapped back by a Knicks fanatic who, quite simply, said, “Same shit Celtics fans were talking, and they went home in 6.”
Then, there were those who paid somewhat conspiratorial interpretations of events: “Fake rigged games now, total bs brought to you by DraftKings,” said one tweet, interrupted by another who blamed: “REFS CONTROLLED THE DIRECTION OF THE GAME.” A bit dramatic was a mention of the Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga, who “predicts the choking of the Pacers is coming.” (For the record, no evidence exists that Vanga ever commented on NBA playoff outcomes.)
During the storm, a few more sober accounts commented in solemn tones: “Damn, 20-point comeback tonight. They trying to make it a series.” Another observer put it more colorfully: “They didn’t just take Game 3—they snatched it.”
One for the thrillful—besides, that’s where the real drama unfolded on the internet with fans, skeptics, and hot-take artists going head-to-head regarding who really earned the glory. Whatever memories remain of Brunson’s leadership or Towns’ dominance, one thing is clear: every single playoff win is controversial, and this one was decided within seconds.
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When Game 4 would come, the Pacers would more than likely try to even the score while the Knicks would do whatever they can to prove that this comeback was real pure and simple. However, judging from the current situation on social media, I tend to believe that the sour narrative battle might even grow to equal the seriousness of the real fight on the court.
