Knicks force Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals after a Jalen Brunson masterclass

The New York Knicks secured a crucial 111–94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 29, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. This win narrowed the series deficit to 3–2, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

The Knicks established a commanding double-digit lead by halftime and extended it to 22 points, maintaining control throughout the game. Unlike their Game 1 collapse, they held their composure in the fourth quarter, despite a late comeback attempt by the Pacers.

Game 5 marked a major turning point in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals narrative, not only because the Knicks finally held a lead, but because it snapped Indiana’s perfect Game 5 record in the playoffs. Before this, the Pacers were 2-0 in Game 5s, having eliminated both the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers in that exact scenario. So this loss was a big momentum shift. 

A quiet performance from Tyrese Haliburton was the major reason the Pacers fell flat in Game 5. It was one of his least effective games of the postseason, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Indiana. 

Brunson was in complete control, dropping 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting. He also added five rebounds and five assists, operating with poise and balance. Heading into this game, he was averaging 33.3 PPG in the series, and this performance further cemented his status as one of the playoffs’ most reliable and clutch scorers. His efficiency was especially important, helping the Knicks avoid the stagnant, isolation-heavy offense that had cost them in previous games.

The Knicks proved something in Game 5: that they can still fight, still defend, and still rise behind Brunson. But now they face a different kind of test, one not of skill, but of composure, execution, and grit in one of the toughest road environments in the league.

needed it. GOT IT. pic.twitter.com/fwp57YHo5d

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 30, 2025

Key Stats

• Most Points: Jalen Brunson (32 in 40 minutes)
• Most Assists: Tyrese Haliburton (6 in 40 Minutes)
• Most Rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns (13 in 40 minutes)

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