The Knicks expanded the playoffs by defeating the Pacers 94-111 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
Facing the elimination, the Knicks' performance reignited their hopes for the championship.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 32 points, planning the offense with precision and balance.
Karl-Anthony Towns said of Brunson: “He's cooking, and that's what I see – I see him cooking. When he's playing like this, he's hitting the ball, it obviously inspires everyone.”
The town overcomes concerns about knee issues, contributing doubles with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
“We spent a lot of time trying to be prepared so that I could have a chance,” Towns said. “God is fine. I can go there and play.”
The Knicks' defense was choking, leaving the Pacers to just 94 points, their lowest in the series and made them shoot just 40.5% from the field.
“[Haliburton] “I mean, our backs are on the wall. I didn't expect, “I need to be better than him.” “I was just thinking, “I need to help my team win.” “Every time I'm on the court, that's my mindset – just help my team win.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team's defense: “Sometimes it's a combination [Haliburton] Missed some of the photos he would normally take, but our guy was tied up trying to get him to work for everything. That's what you have to do. You have to fight to win all your possessions. ”
The Knicks also played a key role on the bench, with their main contributions maintaining momentum and providing a crucial rest for starters. The victory narrowed the series deficit to 3-2, with Game 6 set to be held in Indiana.
As the series moved to Indiana, the Knicks aimed to move that momentum forward, trying to force a decisive seven games in the garden.
Read more: Ben Stiller's contact with Timothée Chalamet in the Knicks
