Knicks keep season alive with another Jalen Brunson playoff gem in Game 5 win
The Knicks aren't ready for the offseason just yet.
They kept their slim NBA Finals hopes alive with their most complete performance of the Eastern Conference finals.
Jalen Brunson celebrates after hitting a shot during the Knicks' Game 5 win May 29. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns slams the ball during the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Jalen Brunson led the way in the victory. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Facing elimination for the first time this postseason, Tom Thibodeau's team was sharp Thursday night.
Advertisement
It played with force and focus.
It defended well, limited the Pacers in transition and hammered them in the paint, sending this series back to Indiana for Game 6 on Saturday night with a thorough, wire-to-wire 111-94 victory at the Garden.
Jalen Brunson owned the first and third quarters, Karl-Anthony Towns was dominant in the second and effective in the fourth, and everyone else did their part as the Knicks extended the series in emphatic fashion.
Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks' Game 5 win against the Pacers on May 29. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
'Knicks in seven!' chants began late in the fourth quarter, with the contest well in hand. Knicks fans can at least dream of a Game 7 back at MSG on Monday night.
Advertisement
'It's a testament to our team answering the call. I think tonight we did that,' Towns said. 'But we are going to have to be even better next game if we want our season to continue.'
Tyrese Haliburton attempts a shot during the Knicks' Game 5 win against the Pacers on May 29. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
This marked the first game of the series in which the Knicks were really able to slow the Pacers for an entire game.
On Tuesday, Tyrese Haliburton obliterated them and Indiana exploded for 130 points.
But two nights later, Haliburton was an afterthought, held without a field goal in the first half and limited to eight points, six assists and a minus-23 on the floor.
'[Mikal Bridges] did a great job today trying to be physical, trying to be on his body and not give him anything easy,' Josh Hart said. 'I think we didn't have any plays where we had a miscommunication or left him open for three, which I feel like we did a couple times last game.'
Advertisement
It was the Pacers' lowest-scoring game of the postseason, and their worst output since Feb. 4.
Josh Hart attempts a shot during the Knicks' Game 5 win against the Pacers on May 29. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Pascal Siakam, who has terrorized the Knicks throughout this series, managed just 15 points on 13 shots. It was 60-34 in points in the paint, in favor of the Knicks.
Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series.
'They played harder than us,' Siakam said. 'We played hard, they played harder.'
Brunson took charge early and finished with an efficient 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting along with five assists. Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds, and was a game-high plus-26.
Advertisement
Mitchell Robinson (six points, six rebounds, two blocks) responded from his admittedly off Game 4 to wreak havoc inside and Hart notched a double-double off the bench with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns high-fives New York Knicks guard Josh Hart during the fourth quarter. Jason Szenes / New York Post
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates after he scored and was fouled in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson ensured a strong start by coming out firing. He hit six of his first seven shots and the Knicks led by 10 midway through the opening quarter. The margin was 11 at the half, the Pacers held to 37.5 percent shooting.
'We have to try to replicate the first quarter next game,' Brunson said.
Karl-Anthony Towns gets defeated by the Pacers during the Knicks' Game
5 win. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The Knicks' stifling defense continued into the third quarter, the period that doomed them in Game 4.
Advertisement
They scored 16 of the first 23 points of the quarter to build a 20-point cushion.
Brunson scored 10 of those points, and on consecutive possessions Robinson scored on a follow and blocked Haliburton on a drive.
The Pacers responded by getting within 10 only for the Knicks to punch back immediately with a 10-0 burst of their own.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson reach for a rebound during the first quarter. Jason Szenes / New York Post
It was a 17-point lead after three quarters, and the Eastern Conference finals would soon be headed back to Indianapolis.
'With this series, we haven't been able to close out games the way we've wanted to, we haven't been able to show how special we are,' Towns said. 'We've had moments of brilliance, but we haven't had games of brilliance. I think tonight was a good testament to when we're locked in playing 48 minutes, we could show the world how special we really are.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Manny Pacquiao trains at 'amazing' Raiders facility before big fight
Manny Pacquiao, preparing to return to the boxing ring at 46 on Saturday in Las Vegas, escaped the suffocating heat Wednesday, July 16. But not as long as expected. The Filipino star did shadow boxing and ab work inside the Las Vegas' Raiders training facility. But with an unexpected breeze outside, Pacquiao did a light jog around the outdoor fields, said Marcus Padilla, the Raiders' Senior Director of Broadcast, who arranged the visit. 'It was awesome,'' Padilla said. Will Carless, head of the Raiders' communications and public relations department, also confirmed Pacquiao's visit. The work was some of Pacquiao's final training before his fight with Mario Barrios, which will be his first since 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision. The visit began on Wednesday before 8 a.m. when Pacquiao arrived with an entourage of about 15 people that included his trainer, Freddie Roach. Typically, when in Las Vegas for a fight, Pacquiao runs at UNLV. 'I think they're going to have to talk sense in Manny because he would run through Hades and train, and I don't know if he's as concerned about conserving his energy,'' Padilla said before the visit. No luck. Although the temperature reached 88 degrees by 8 a.m., Pacquiao still headed for a walk and light jog around the three outdoor fields at the Raiders' Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson – about 12 miles from MGM Grand Garden Arena where Pacquiao will fight Saturday night. Manny Pacquiao's grasp of football Pacquiao's manager, Sean Gibbons, said he wasn't sure if the legendary boxer even knows how many yards it takes to get a first down. 'Manny's passion is basketball and chess,'' Gibbons told USA TODAY Sports before Pacquiao's visit to the Raiders' facility. But Gibbons said Pacquiao has developed a friendship with Camryn Bynum, a safety for the Indianapolis Colts whose mother is Filipino. This is not the Raiders' foray into the world of boxing. Tyson used property owned by Raiders owner Mark Davis to build a gym he used while training for his fight against Jake Paul on Nov. 15. While Tyson lost to the former YouTuber, Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, is taking on a more daunting, much stiffer challenge. He is seeking to become the first Hall of Fame boxer to win a world title. The WBC welterweight title will be on the line when he fights 30-year-old Mario Barrios, the reigning WBC champion. Pacquiao, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, has not held a world title since losing the WBO welterweight championship in 2017 to Jeff Horn by unanimous decision. How did Pacquiao's visit materialize Padilla, who is Filipino and president of the Raiders' Asian Pacific Islander group, said his attempt to get Pacquiao to the Raiders fell through in 2009 when the Raiders were still in Oakland. After learning about Pacquiao's comeback, Padilla said, he visited the boxer's training camp in Los Angeles and set in motion the boxer's visit to the Raiders' training facility. Upon Pacquaio's arrival at the facility, Padilla said, the boxer marveled at the facility and said, 'Big. Amazing.'' The Raiders also have made their facility available to soccer superstar Neymar and WWE superstar Roman Reigns, according to Padilla and Kiss. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manny Pacquiao trains at Raiders facility before big fight
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean Combs May Need to ‘Dial' Lavish Lifestyle ‘Back' as He Racks Up ‘Massive' Legal Bills: Source
Sean 'Diddy' Combs scored a victory when he was only found guilty of two out of five counts in his high profile trial – but the disgraced music producer is still facing a mountain of debts that could radically affect his lavish lifestyle in the future, according to a source. 'Even though it's looking likely he'll get to keep his assets, that doesn't mean it's smooth sailing from here on out,' a source exclusively dishes to the National Enquirer. 'His legal bills are going to be so massive it's hard to even estimate how many tens of millions he'll be on the hook for with that.' His payments to his lawyers for his criminal case aren't the only ones the hip hop artist has to worry about in the future. Since his September 2024 arrest, Diddy has been hit with dozens of civil suits accusing him of sexual assault, harassment, making violent threats and more. His legal team has repeatedly slammed the lawsuits as a money grab and maintained his innocence. 'Only time will tell what those will cost him, but people are predicting it will be a whole lot,' continues the source. 'He's used to living like a king, private jets, tons and tons of staff, throwing money around like it's nothing. But the reality is he won't have that kind of money anymore so he'll need to dial things back in a big way.' The court of public opinion could also be 'very unforgiving' to Diddy, which could affect his 'earning power' over the rest of his career – even if he manages to dodge a significant amount of prison time, the source speculates. 'Any good advisor is going to be telling him he needs to scale things way back once he's out,' the source adds. 'If he fails to listen and keeps his spending where it was at pre-trial, it could lead to disaster.' Earlier this month, celebrity financial advisor Devin White told the Enquirer that he thinks Diddy's 'Sean John business deals with Macy's and other stores are going to be finished' once everything is said and done. As the National Enquirer reported, Diddy was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. He was found not guilty on his sex trafficking and racketeering related charges. He'd previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following the verdict, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that Diddy would not be released on bail as he awaits his sentencing hearing in October. He is set to remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How is Bradley Beal expected to fit with the Clippers?
Bradley Beal reportedly has agreed to a buyout from the Phoenix Suns and is expected to join the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN. Beal is expected to receive a two-year, $11 million contract with a player option after he clears waivers, according to ESPN. After two disappointing years with the Suns, it seems Beal and his family prioritized fit over paycheck. The Clippers are a solid landing spot for the 32-year-old who is entering his 14th season. Let's break down how he's expected to fit on a team that considers itself a contender in the West. What Bradley Beal does for the Clippers Los Angeles traded Norman Powell in a deal for John Collins, meaning there's a significant hole for the Clips at shooting guard, which is the only position Beal can really play. At 6-foot-4 and with a feathery touch, Beal would seem like a seamless fit alongside the more ball-dominant James Harden and do-it-all (when healthy) wing Kawhi Leonard. But Beal does have his own availability issues, with the veteran averaging 49 games played the past four seasons. With the Clippers strengthening their frontline via the acquisitions of Collins and Brook Lopez in free agency, Beal's signing should bring tremendous roster balance. A lineup of Harden, Beal, Leonard, Collins, and Ivica Zubac might be one of the most potent starting units in the NBA, with a healthy mix of interior and perimeter offense. Of course, health will always be the major issue with the Clippers, but if things do break right, they could be a formidable threat in the Western Conference.
