The New York Knicks are on the brink of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in over two decades following a dominant performance against the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Brunson, bouncing back from recent struggles, showcased his scoring prowess by dropping 44 points, marking his fifth 40-point game of the postseason. The Knicks secured a commanding 121-91 victory on Tuesday night, seizing a 3-2 series lead.
Following a disheartening blowout loss, the Knicks regrouped, ensuring another opportunity to play in front of their fervent Madison Square Garden crowd. Josh Hart contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Deuce McBride added 17 points after being inserted into the starting lineup.
The second-seeded Knicks have the chance to close out the series on Friday night in Indiana. Game 7, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
“We still need one more win so we can’t get too excited about it,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We have to understand what we need to do, stay focused on the task at hand. If you feel good about yourself you get knocked down in this league. We’ve got to be ready to go.”
Despite concerns about a foot injury sustained in Game 2, Brunson delivered a stellar performance, exhibiting his offensive versatility with an array of scoring moves. He established a Knicks playoff record by scoring 28 points in the first half and sealed the victory with seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter.
Brunson received ample support from his teammates, with Alec Burks chipping in 18 points off the bench and Isaiah Hartenstein contributing seven points and a remarkable 17 rebounds. The Knicks dominated the glass, outrebounding the Pacers 53-29, including 20 offensive rebounds leading to 26 second-chance points.
On the opposing side, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points, while Myles Turner added 16. However, the Pacers struggled to match the intensity of the Knicks, particularly on the boards, as highlighted by their coach Rick Carlisle.
The game featured several contentious moments reminiscent of the physical matchups between the Knicks and Pacers in the 1990s. Five technical fouls were handed out, with tensions escalating at various points during the game.
