The anticipation was palpable as the Indiana Pacers head coach spoke before Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. “NBA games are events with five or six thousand moments,” he remarked. “Any notion that a game, especially at this time of year with high stakes, will be the same as the last is just unrealistic.”
Yet, sometimes, things are simpler than they seem. “If you don’t hit somebody and go get the ball, you’re going to lose,” he added. And the Knicks took that advice to heart.
Right from the start, the Knicks set a physical tone. Just 61 seconds into the game, Isaiah Hartenstein secured his first offensive rebound. By the end of the night, the Knicks had pulled down 20 offensive rebounds, with Hartenstein grabbing 12, a career-high. These rebounds led to 26 second-chance points, contributing to a dominant 121-91 victory over the Pacers. The Knicks outscored Indiana 62-36 in the paint, largely due to their relentless aggression and their primary offensive weapon, Jalen Brunson.
The formula for success in this series has been straightforward: when Jalen Brunson excels, the Knicks win. After struggling in Games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis, Brunson bounced back in Game 5, perhaps aided by a short rest period and the comfort of home. He returned to his All-NBA form, torching the Pacers for 44 points on 18-for-35 shooting, adding five assists and five rebounds.
Brunson’s performance was nothing short of a masterclass. He scored 10 points in the first quarter alone, nearly matching his total from Game 4. By halftime, he had orchestrated 23 points in the second quarter alone, giving the Knicks a 15-point lead they would never relinquish.
“Every time you talk about him, it’s not enough,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s like a machine. Every day, he comes in locked in. He’ll be ready for the next game, and the next.”
Jalen Brunson’s resurgence wasn’t attributed to any specific change in strategy. “Just finding a way. That’s really just it. There’s nothing special about it. We just needed to get it done,” he said. However, Thibodeau did make a crucial adjustment by inserting guard Miles McBride into the starting lineup instead of Precious Achiuwa. This move added a more threatening shooter and a higher-end ball-handler, easing some pressure off Brunson.
McBride, known for his defensive prowess, also took on the challenge of guarding Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s All-Star. McBride’s efforts were pivotal, limiting Haliburton to a quiet 13 points and five assists while also contributing 17 points and four assists himself.
The Knicks’ dominance in Game 5 was further solidified by Hartenstein’s relentless effort on the boards. He became just the ninth player since 1977 to grab 12 offensive rebounds in a playoff game, joining the ranks of legends like Moses Malone and Shaquille O’Neal. “I just wanted to be more physical,” Hartenstein said. “In Indiana, I wasn’t playing like myself. I wasn’t being physical.”
With this emphatic win, the Knicks took control of the series, now leading 3-2. They have two chances to clinch their first Eastern Conference finals berth since 2000. But as Brunson wisely noted, “One game does not have any effect on the next. It’s all about how we prepare for Game 6.”
For the Pacers, it’s a call to brace for a fight. “We turned their pressure up tonight, and our pressure was virtually nonexistent,” their coach admitted. “We’ve got to make serious adjustments for Game 6. We need to get out of here and get home.”
The stage is set for a crucial Game 6, where the Knicks will look to continue their dream season, driven by the brilliance of Jalen Brunson and a team ready to battle to the end.
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