The New York Knicks forced a Game 6 in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Indiana Pacers after a resounding 111-94 win in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. The series is now 3-2, still in the Pacers’ favor but with much less breathing room than before.
Charles Barkley, the NBA legend, reminded the Pacers that they cannot afford to lose Game 6, despite having the option of winning the series in Game 7. He believes that Madison Square Garden has the capability of igniting the Knicks to repeat a performance like what they did in Game 5.
“Everybody says a series don’t start until you lose a home game, that’s what most people say… But the Pacers are still in control. But I will say this– it is a must-win for the Pacers because if they come back here, they’re gonna get another a** kicking like they did today.”
The Knicks dominated the game from the tipoff and did not take their foot off the gas pedal. They built an 11-point lead in the first half and pushed it to 17 at the end of the third quarter. The Pacers did not take the lead even once in the entire game, as the Knicks rallied ahead from the beginning to the end of the game.
What Does This Win Mean For The Knicks?
The Knicks have grabbed onto the last sliver of hope as they are in danger of being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. After going down 3-1 in Indiana, every game became a must-win game for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns had to bring out their A-game to help the Knicks force a Game 6.
Brunson finished Game 5 with 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Meanwhile, Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds. They became the first duo since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to score 20+ points individually in five consecutive games of a Conference Finals series.
Brunson is playing the reigning MVP of the NBA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Just one day after Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history with 10 games in a single Playoff season where they had 30+ points and 5+ assists, Brunson also accomplished the same feat in the next game.
Only approximately 2% of the teams that have been in a 3-1 deficit in their seven-game playoff series come back to win it from that position (13 in 697 instances). The Cavaliers in 2016 were the only team to do it in the Finals, and the Nuggets in 2019-20 were the only team to ever do it twice in a single season.
The Knicks are one of only two teams that were able to beat the Pacers at home in the Playoffs this season (the other team is the Cavaliers). They will need to find a way to lock down Haliburton like they did in Game 5 (he had only 8 points) to ensure that Brunson and Towns can lead the Knicks to their first NBA Finals since 1999.
