In Game 5 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, the host New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 121-91 on Tuesday night behind 44 points from Jalen Brunson.
After dropping Games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis, the Knicks now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
With a victory on the road in Game 6, New York will try to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference finals on Friday.
In 43 minutes, Brunson—who scored at least 40 points for the seventh time in his 11 postseason games this spring—added four rebounds and seven assists.
For the Knicks, Josh Hart finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 17 rebounds. With 12 offensive rebounds, Hartenstein tied the franchise playoff record set on May 15, 1994, against the Chicago Bulls by Charles Oakley.
Miles McBride scored 17 points for the Knicks, while Alec Burks scored 18 points off the bench. With Julius Randle (shoulder) out for the season, Mitchell Robinson (ankle) out until at least mid-June, and OG Anunoby (hamstring) out for a third straight game, New York used a seven-man rotation.
Regarding New York’s intense energy, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated, “To me, that’s been a trademark of the team.” “This is how we’ve been operating on a tight budget all year. Every possession requires us to play with extreme intensity, and we must continue doing so. Thus, we must spend 48 minutes doing that.”And we are aware that we will have a strong chance to win if we play solid defense, grab rebounds, and handle the ball.”Myles Turner scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam’s 22 points. Tyrese Haliburton was held to just 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, down from his series-opening average of 23.8 points and 16.5 shots attempted. Additionally, Andrew Nembhard
The first quarter saw the Pacers lead by as many as seven points, but the Knicks took the lead for good at the end of the quarter, going on a 22-10 run to establish a 38-32 advantage. In the second quarter, Brunson scored eighteen points, as New York led by as many as eighteen points at the half, 69-54.
With 9:56 remaining in the third, Turner made three consecutive 3-pointers in a 64-second stretch to get the Pacers within 70-63.
Before New York could get any farther than 17 points, Donte DiVincenzo made a floater for the Knicks and Nembhard split two free throws. With 3:13 remaining in the game, Indiana missed nine consecutive attempts and gave up three turnovers, allowing the Knicks to take an 89-64 lead.
With six points apiece from Siakam, the Pacers started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run. But the Knicks’ next 10-0 run, which saw Brunson score seven straight points, put the game out of reach.
It was a “very poor effort, obviously,” said Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. “Every quarter, I lose. was destroyed by rebounds and stray balls. gave allowed 29 additional shots and 20 offensive rebounds. Thus, we are all its owners. quite embarrassing, too.
“Very embarrassing and a hard lesson.”