Pacers Can’t Close the Deal in Game 5, Head Home with 3-2 Series Lead
New York Knicks 111, Indiana Pacers 94 – Game 5, Eastern Conference Finals
The Indiana Pacers missed their first shot at history Thursday night, falling 111-94 to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. Now, the Blue & Gold will have to regroup and try again at home with the series tightening at 3-2.
New York came out with fire, led by Jalen Brunson’s 32-point performance and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 24 points and 13 rebounds despite a knee injury scare. The Pacers, who had looked unstoppable in transition and lethal from the perimeter in Game 4, struggled to find rhythm. Indiana managed just 40.5% from the field in their lowest scoring game of the postseason.
Tyrese Haliburton, fresh off a triple-double earlier in the week, was held to eight points and six assists. Bennedict Mathurin provided a spark off the bench with 23, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Knicks’ second-half surge.
Game 6 shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday night, where the Pacers will once again try to clinch their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000. The stakes are sky-high, and the Blue & Gold faithful will be ready to bring the noise.