Knicks stave off elimination with Game 5 win over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Pacers will have to wait another day to earn a berth in the NBA Finals as the New York Knicks avoided elimination with a 111-94 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.




The Pacers' next opportunity to clinch the team's second appearance in the finals in franchise history will come on Saturday night when they host Game 6 at 8:00 p.m.




After a historic performance in Game 4 with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and zero turnovers, New York held Tyrese Haliburton to just eight points and six assists. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 23 points.




Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds.




New York was in control from the tip-off, scoring the first six points of the game, then going up 10-3 before building a 10-point lead in the first quarter. Brunson scored 14 points in the quarter on 6-of-9 shooting.




The Knicks extended their lead in the second quarter behind 12 points from Towns. New York took its biggest lead at 14 on an OG Anunoby basket before heading to the locker room up 56-45 at halftime.




The Knicks' lead swelled to 20 on a pair of Anunoby free throws in the third quarter before the Pacers tried to claw back into the game. Mathurin made two free throws to make the game 74-64, but the Knicks responded with a 12-0 run highlighted by a Brunson four-point play. New York led by 17 after three.




Indiana got within 12 in the fourth quarter on a Jarace Walker three-pointer, but the Knicks went on another run to seal the game.




The Pacers won their only other closeout opportunity at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this postseason, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 119-118 in overtime of Game 5 of their first round series.



via: https://fox59.com/sports/pacers/knicks-stave-off-elimination-with-game-5-win-over-pacers/