Knicks Dominate From the Tip, Pacers on Their Heels
It was do-or-die at Madison Square Garden, and the New York Knicks made sure no one forgot it. From the opening whistle, the Knicks set the tone with energy, smart ball movement, and relentless defense, beating the Indiana Pacers 111-94 to force Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Down in the series and with elimination hanging over their heads, the Knicks played with urgency and purpose. The crowd was loud and the players responded in kind—especially Jalen Brunson.
Brunson looked like a man on a mission, exploiting any mismatch the Pacers threw at him. He picked apart Indiana off the dribble, got into the paint, and either finished himself or set his teammates up for easy buckets. His ability to draw fouls and calmly convert free throws helped New York maintain—and grow—their lead whenever Indiana tried to make a run. But this was far from a one-man show.
Josh Hart played with the kind of energy coaches dream about. Grabbing tough rebounds, breaking up passes, and chasing down loose balls, Hart's hustle set the tone on both ends. He hounded Indiana’s best shooters on the perimeter, forcing tough looks that just wouldn’t fall. When the Pacers managed some momentum, Hart seemed to always be in the right place to snuff it out.
The Knicks’ depth really showed up as well. Miles McBride came off the bench and brought instant intensity, pressuring Indiana’s ball handlers and running the offense smoothly while Brunson sat. Jericho Sims banged bodies inside and gave the Knicks a spark in the paint, helping out-rebound Indiana’s reserves and making sure every minute counted. The second unit's scoring punch kept the pressure on and never let the visitors get comfortable.
Pacers Falter Under Pressure as New York Defense Locks Down
The Pacers, by comparison, just couldn't shake the nerves. Bad passes led to too many turnovers, and their shooters went cold at the worst possible times. Patrick Baldwin Jr. missed all three of his early three-point looks, and Indiana’s offense sputtered every time it looked like they might claw back. Fast-break points were hard to come by for the Pacers—New York was quick to get set on defense and forced Indiana into a half-court grind they just weren’t winning.
Whenever they tried to speed things up, the Knicks intercepted passes or contested just enough to mess up Indiana’s rhythm. Even their leading scorers struggled to find clean looks. After every frustrating trip down the floor, New York was out and running in transition, turning tough defense into easy points. The Pacers’ bench gave little help, and with the Knicks’ reserves firing on all cylinders, the gap kept growing.
This was New York’s statement game. By locking Indiana down and hustling for nearly every loose ball, the Knicks sent a clear message—they’re not ready for their season to end just yet. With Game 6 shifting back to Indiana, the Pacers face a team whose confidence just got a huge boost, and a series that feels suddenly up for grabs.
May, 30 2025