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[Saba Sports News] Indiana Pacers fans are pulling out all the stops this postseason.
With Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals taking place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday, the Pacers came away with a 130-121 win over the New York Knicks to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
During the third quarter, Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns stepped to the free throw line — and one Pacers fan got especially inventive. As Towns lined up his shot, the fan loudly meowed, “Meow! Meow! Meow!” in a playful jab at Towns’ “KAT” nickname. The taunt may have worked — Towns missed the free throw.
Towns, a five-time All-Star, is no stranger to feline-themed mockery due to his initials. One particularly savage example came last season when TNT aired a broadcast graphic riffing on his nickname.
Despite the distraction, Towns still delivered a strong Game 4 performance with 24 points (on 8-of-15 shooting), 12 rebounds, and three assists. He’s had an impressive series overall, including a dominant 20-point fourth quarter in Game 3 to help New York rally for a win.
But the Knicks now face an uphill climb, needing three straight victories to stay alive. Towns also took a hit late in Game 4 after knocking knees with Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith, raising questions about his availability for Thursday’s pivotal Game 5 in New York.