Knicks Force Game 6 with 111-94 Win at MSG

The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-94 Thursday night in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden to send the Eastern Conference Finals back to Indianapolis for a Game 6 on Saturday at 8 p.m. from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. 

The Knick defense tightened up, as they limited Pascal Siakam to just 15 points (5-of-13) and Tyrese Haliburton to just seven shot attempts (2-for-7, 8 points, 6 assists). Bennedict Mathurin attacked well and got to the free-throw line, leading the Pacers in points with 23 on 6-of-10 from the field and 9-of-9 from the line. Obi Toppin contributed 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting. 

Jalen Brunson’s 32 points led the Knicks, with the guard adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He made 12 of his 18 shots from the field and hit on 4-of-7 from downtown. Karl-Anthony Towns was aggressive, making 10 of his 20 attempts for 24 points and 13 rebounds. With their performances, Towns and Brunson became the first pair of teammates to each score 20+ points in the first five games of a Conference Final since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2002. 

The Knicks held the Pacers to 40.5% shooting for the game while shooting 49.4% as a team, and outrebounded the Pacers 45-40. The Pacers made 10 of their 30 shots from downtown, while the Knicks connected on 8-of-29. Indiana held a big advantage from the free-throw line going 24-of-29 compared to New York’s 15-of-22. 

New York had a 27-23 lead after the first quarter and led 56-45 at halftime while limiting Haliburton to four first half points and no makes from the field (0-for-3). 

The Pacers were able to cut the deficit to 10, 58-48, after an Aaron Nesmith 3-pointer, but the Knicks scored six quick points, with Brunson connecting on a triple with 9:50 on the clock for a 64-48 lead. 

The Knicks took a 72-52 lead with 6:32 to go in the third, but after Towns picked up his fourth foul just eight seconds later, the Pacers made a run with Siakam, Mathurin, and Toppin all scoring to cut the deficit to 12, 72-60. A triple by Brunson with 2:56 remaining in the third gave the Knicks an 81-64 lead, and a finish inside by Precious Achiuwa gave the Knicks a 20-point lead at 84-64. Miles McBride hit on a pull-up to put the Knicks up 86-64. The Pacers got the score within 15, 86-71, after a Ben Sheppard three, but trailed 90-73 after three quarters. Brunson had reached 30 points through three quarters, making it his 10th game this postseason with over 30 points, a Knicks’ playoff record.  

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Pacers made the Knicks sweat a little bit, with a 9-1 run driven by a Mathurin transition layup, Siakam drive, and a Jarace Walker triple. With the score 96-84 with 8:14 remaining, Tom Thibodeau called time. 

Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges came up big for the Knicks out of the timeout, with Hart driving and converting two free-throws after being fouled, and Bridges finding Hart underneath for a finish. The plays led the Pacers to call timeout, trailing 100-84.  

With 3:26 remaining, Towns picked up his fifth foul, but it turned out to be inconsequential as the Knicks kept their distance. With 2:44 on the clock, Haliburton, Siakam, and Mathurin went to the bench. 

Hart, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, gave the Knicks crucial minutes with hustle plays, as he usually does. On the flipside, Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Nesmith, and Myles Turner all finished in single digits. Nembhard scored 6 points, Turner 5, and Nesmith just 3. Mathurin, Siakam, and Toppin were the only Pacers to finish in double-figures.

Back at home for Game 6, the Pacers need to come out with more energy and urgency, especially Haliburton. Turner must come out with a better showing that 5 points and 2 rebounds as well. For a 6 foot, 11 inch player, he is very underwhelming on the boards.

As for the Knicks, they will try and extend the series back to Madison Square Garden for a Game 7 which would take place on Monday Night.