NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks with 32 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 24 units and 13 rebounds, despite a contusion in his left knee. This outstanding performance led to a convincing victory for the Knicks, with a final score of 111-94 over the Indiana Pacers in the fifth game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. With this victory, the Knicks managed to avoid elimination and reduced the Pacers’ lead to 3-2 in the series. The New York team continues to fight for a place in the NBA Finals, extending their first participation in this instance since the year 2000.
Brunson set the pace of the game from the start, accumulating 14 points in the first quarter, and finished with his twenty-first postseason game with 30 or more points, setting a franchise record. Towns, who was questionable to play, proved to be crucial in the second quarter, while Brunson rested. The Knicks showcased a solid defense, limiting Tyrese Haliburton, a key figure for the Pacers in the previous game, to only 8 points and 6 assists. Indiana, which came in with six consecutive away wins, had its lowest offensive performance of this postseason.It is a testament to our team answering the call.
Towns
Obviously we didn’t play with the level of force we needed. We lost the rebounding battle, the turnovers, and we didn’t shoot well. They had a lot to do with that. You have to give them credit.
Rick Carlisle, Indiana Coach
Game six will be played on Saturday in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will seek to close out the series and secure their spot in the NBA Finals for the second time in their history.
