The New York Knicks finally found their tone in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers. Led by All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson’s dominant performance, the Knicks forced a deciding Game 6 with an 111-94 win on Thursday night.
Brunson was unstoppable from the opening quarter, scoring the first three baskets and going on to score 32 points. He set the tone by competing harder on defense and slowing down Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton. The result was just eight points and six assists for Haliburton, as the Pacers struggled with turnovers.
The Knicks’ defense held the Pacers below 100 points, and while there were a few brief moments of tension, including Karl-Anthony Towns’ foul trouble in the second half, Brunson’s team responded quickly. With center Mitchell Robinson seeing action after an injury-plagued Towns, the Knicks never looked back.
Brunson acknowledged that his defense had been lacking throughout the series, but on Thursday, he made it a priority. “I’m happy with the way we responded,” he said. Coach Tom Thibodeau praised the collective effort in containing Haliburton, saying their team was “tied together” in making him work for every possession.
The Knicks now force Game 6 on Saturday night in Indianapolis, where they will look to build on this momentum and take the series lead.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45383906/brunson-towns-keep-knicks-alive-force-game-6-vs-pacers