Knicks are solid in New York, Indiana has a second match point at home

It was as if the entire Madison Square Garden was breathing in rhythm with one name and surname during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals — Jalen Brunson. And when a fired-up Karl-Anthony Towns joined him, it became clear that the Knicks would not go down without a fight. In the cauldron of the legendary arena, New York refused to bow out and kept hope alive with a 111–94 win over the Indiana Pacers, cutting the series deficit to 3–2 and postponing elimination for at least 48 more hours.

Jalen Brunson once again confirmed he's playing the season of his life. He had 30 points by the end of the third quarter and was orchestrating the Knicks’ offense. He finished the game with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Alongside the stellar guard, Karl-Anthony Towns also stood out, scoring 24 points and making a significant impact on the boards and disrupting the Pacers’ rhythm. This win means that New York has extended the series at least until Saturday night and forced a return to Indianapolis.

Indiana struggled in Game 5. Apart from young Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 23 points and tried to keep his team in the game, the rest of the squad was unconvincing. Pascal Siakam added 15 points and Obi Toppin had 11, the only other double-digit scorers. The Knicks played tougher, more decisively, and with more energy, clearly showing they’re not ready to close this chapter.

The game opened at a fast pace, but the Knicks quickly took control, starting off with a 10–3 run. Indiana was within four points after the first 12 minutes, but the gap became more apparent in the second quarter. The Pacers trailed by 11 at halftime, and the Knicks pushed the pace even further in the third. Brunson hit several tough shots in a row, while Towns dominated the paint, stretching the lead to a maximum of 22 points late in the third quarter.

Indiana had a brief run in the final period, cutting the deficit to 12 with around eight minutes left, but New York wasn't intimidated by one of the season’s biggest surprises, allowing their fans to keep dreaming — at least for a little while longer. Miles Bridges and Josh Hart each scored 12 points for the Knicks, and OG Anunoby added 11.

The next game will be played in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will have another chance to close out the series in front of their home crowd. Still, judging by how Brunson and Towns looked tonight, they might have to wait a bit longer for that historic celebration.