After NY Knicks’ Game 5 rout, pressure shifts to Indiana Pacers for Game 6
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NY Knicks' point guard Jalen Brunson dribbles the ball under pressure from the Indiana Pacers' point guard TJ McConnell during Game 5.
PHOTO: AFP
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INDIANAPOLIS – The New York Knicks, with their backs to the wall and under immense pressure, responded in Game 5, and now are focused on forcing a Game 7 in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference Finals.
Suddenly, the Indiana Pacers, who hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, are the team who are facing more heat entering the pivotal Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31 (June 1, Singapore time).
There is pressure, of course, but clinching a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 will be a much easier endeavour in front of their home fans. Game 7, if needed, would be at Madison Square Garden.
“We understand what the stakes are. We’re fine. There’s no need to panic or anything,” Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said.
The third-seeded Knicks were clearly the better team in their 111-94 home victory in Game 5 on May 29. They never trailed, shut down Haliburton, dominated the inside and forced 20 turnovers to deliver a convincing victory.
Guard Jalen Brunson had 32 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds. The forward thrived despite playing with an ailing left knee.
“This team is special. In this series, we haven’t been able to close out games we wanted to. We’ve had moments of brilliance and (Thursday) we showed the world how special we are,” Towns said.
New York’s task of levelling the series will be much easier if they can once again keep guard Haliburton, the leader of the fourth-seeded Pacers, in check.
Haliburton delivered a performance for the ages in Game 4 when he had 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds without a turnover, the first time a player achieved a 30-15-10-0 stat line in NBA post-season history. He also made five three-pointers and had four steals in the 130-121 home triumph.
But Game 5 was a totally different experience for him.
New York hounded him from the outset and mixed their defenders to keep the Indiana star off-balance. Haliburton had just eight points, six assists and two rebounds. He took just seven shots, sinking two.
“As a team, we need to have a level of balance... There are more things I need to do to help him. I will take responsibility for that and we’ll see where we can improve,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.
New York guard Mikal Bridges fuelled the defensive charge, but had plenty of help.
“Just starting with Mikal, wanting to pick up full court, make anything that (Haliburton) was doing hard. Whether it was denying him, trying to stay into his body or guys being up, just trying to make it hard,” Knicks backup guard Miles McBride said.
Meanwhile, the Knicks outscored Indiana 60-34 in the paint in Game 5 as Towns repeatedly drove for baskets. Perhaps more startling was that Indiana’s edge in fast-break points was limited to 16-15; over the first four games, the Pacers held a whopping 65-23 advantage.
“I’m just happy with the way we responded, honestly. We came out and had some energy to the way we played. I’m very proud of what we did, and we have to try to replicate it,” Brunson said.
Brunson is averaging 33 points in the series. Towns averages 25.4 points and 11.8 rebounds.
For Indiana, Haliburton averages 21 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Pascal Siakam is also faring well with a 23.6-point average.
Siakam wants to see the Pacers raise their level of play in Game 6.
“They played harder than us. It’s OK. We played hard, but they played harder,” he said of Game 5. REUTERS
