NEW YORK – The New York Knicks showed up with their backs against the wall and delivered their most determined defensive performance of the postseason, stifling the Indiana Pacers to take Game 5 in commanding fashion, 111-94.
The win at Madison Square Garden forces a Game 6 in Indianapolis on Saturday (8 ET, TNT), where the Knicks will again try to stave off elimination. Powered by Jalen Brunson’s 32 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 24-point, 13-rebound double-double, New York looked revitalized, hungry—and suddenly very dangerous.
1. Desperate Defense Delivers for New York
The Pacers entered Game 5 with one of the most efficient offenses in the playoffs, leading in player movement and second in ball movement. But on Thursday, the Knicks simply smothered them.
New York held Indiana to 94 points on 97 possessions—the Pacers’ worst offensive showing of the postseason. The Knicks hounded ball handlers, rotated aggressively, and forced Indiana into rushed decisions and low-percentage looks. Though Indiana scored well in transition, they were completely bottled up in half-court sets.
A standout defensive sequence in the first quarter illustrated the Knicks’ newfound tenacity: a full-team effort that saw Miles McBride, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Brunson all make timely rotations and contests to force a miss with the shot clock winding down.
In the paint, Indiana went just 17-for-37 (46%)—their worst playoff mark and third-worst of the entire season.
2. Brunson and Towns Star Again
While defense carried the night, the Knicks’ stars continued to shine offensively. Brunson and Towns outscored Indiana’s starting five, 56-37, and did so with elite efficiency—combining for a 67% true shooting rate.
Brunson set the tone early, scoring six points before Indiana had even taken a shot. He didn’t shy away from tough defenders either, going directly at Aaron Nesmith and hitting difficult floaters with defenders draped on him.
Towns, meanwhile, continued to own his matchup with Myles Turner, attacking relentlessly and scoring over the 7-footer with ease.
Brunson’s Game 5 performance placed him in elite company: he’s now just the fourth player in NBA history with 10+ games of 30+ points and 5+ assists in a single postseason, joining Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
3. Deep Rotation Keeps Knicks Fresh
Rather than tightening his bench, coach Tom Thibodeau expanded it. Ten Knicks saw meaningful minutes, including Landry Shamet, Delon Wright, and Precious Achiuwa.
Though the bench was outscored during Towns’ time off the floor, the reserves helped maintain energy and kept the starters from getting worn down—a crucial strategy if the series goes to seven games.
New York, once infamous for relying heavily on its starters, has leaned on its bench far more over the last three games, averaging over 76 minutes per game from its reserves—a stark contrast to their regular-season usage.
4. Pacers Fall Flat
Despite generating some decent looks, Indiana couldn’t convert. Coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the lackluster offensive execution and admitted the effort wasn’t good enough overall.
Tyrese Haliburton, the team’s offensive catalyst, struggled to impact the game with just eight points on inefficient shooting. His postseason production has been a clear barometer for Indiana: 21.3 points per game in wins, but only 11.5 in losses.
“Rough night for me,” Haliburton admitted. “I got to be better, setting the tone, getting downhill.”
5. Can the Knicks Repeat the Effort in Game 6?
The energy New York exerted defensively in Game 5 was extraordinary—but repeating that on the road will be a major challenge. Still, this Knicks team is 6-2 away from home in these playoffs, and they’ve shown resilience throughout the postseason.
“They played harder than us,” said Pacers forward Pascal Siakam. “Loose balls, rebounds, all that. We got to be able to win that battle.”
The series remains razor-close—New York has a slight 582-576 edge in total points through five games—and now it shifts back to Indiana with the Thunder awaiting the winner.
