The New York Knicks will live to fight another day.
Facing their first closeout game of this postseason, New York responded with energy and intensity that did not wane in any quarter — something that had plagued the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks also became the first team to hold the Indiana Pacers to fewer than 100 points in any game this postseason in Thursday’s 111-94 victory.
The Pacers will now get their chance to close out New York at home, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Saturday for Game 6.
From the start of the game, when he scored the first six Knicks points, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson carried New York with 32 points on a hyper-efficient 12-of-18 shooting night that also saw him flush 4-of-7 of his attempts from beyond the arc. Center Karl-Anthony Towns, who nursed a left knee contusion heading into the game, also chipped in 24 points and 13 rebounds.
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More impressive was New York’s defensive effort, as the Knicks swarmed Indiana’s backcourt, rotating with tenacity, deflecting passes and creating turnovers. The Pacers gave the ball away 19 times.
All-Star Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was coming off of a historic 32-point, 15-assist, 12- rebound triple-double, finished with just 8 points on 2-of-7 shooting. In fact, Aaron Nesmith (8 attempts), Andrew Nembhard (8), Obi Toppin (10) and Benedict Mathurin (10) all attempted more shots than Haliburton did.
Mathurin, who played just 24:42 off the bench, led all Pacers with 23 points
The Oklahoma City Thunder awaits the winner of the series in the NBA Finals. The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.
USA TODAY Sports provided full coverage of Thursday night’s Game 5. Scroll below for highlights and a full recap of the game.
Game 5 highlights: Knicks vs. Pacers
See full highlight from New York’s win over Indiana Thursday night:
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Final: Knicks 111, Pacers 94
Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks kept their NBA postseason alive with a 111-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers still lead the series 3-2 and will host the Knicks for Game 6 back in Indiana.
Brunson finished with 32 points, five rebounds and five assists. Karl-Anthony Towns produced a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
It was a fairly quiet night for Tyrese Haliburton, who scored just eight points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field for the Pacers.
Pascal Siakam had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists while Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench and finished with 23 points and nine rebounds.
The Oklahoma City Thunder awaits the winner of the series in the NBA Finals. The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.
3Q: Knicks 90, Pacers 73
After a scoreless second quarter, Jalen Brunson got back to the business of getting to the hoop, scoring 10 of New York’s first 12 points of the third as part of a run to push their lead to 20.
Karl Anthony Towns (19 points, 10 rebounds) sat the last six minutes of the quarter after picking up his fourth foul and the Pacers used an 12-2 run and used the strategy of fouling Knicks center Mitchell Robinson to stop the clock, while trying to cut into the lead, but Brunson scored six points in less than a minute, capped off by a four-point play with 2:56 left as he scored 16 in the quarter.
The Pacers, who are shooting 38%, are led by Bennedict Mathurin, who has 17 points off the bench. Obi Toppin added 11 and Pascal Siakam has 11 points and five rebounds and is the only Indiana starter in double figures. Tyrese Haliburton has been a non-factor so far, scoring six points in his 26 minutes of action.
Halftime: Knicks 56, Pacers 45
The urgency for the New York Knicks is palpable.
After struggling to stack positive quarters throughout the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks maintained their intensity in the second period, extending their lead to 11 points.
The Knicks rode a 14-2 run in the middle of the quarter, as All-Stars Jalen Brunson (14 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17) carried New York. But the most obvious positive for the Knicks has been the way they have protected the ball, turning it over just 6 times. New York has also kept its defensive intensity and has attacked the rim, earning a 32-14 edge in points in the paint.
The Pacers have struggled from the floor, though the starting unit, in particular, has had a rough go. The first five combined to score just 22 points in the first half, with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton having a difficult time generating his shot. Haliburton did not make a single field goal, missing his 3 shot attempts.
He scored just 4 points in the half, while shooting guard Aaron Nesmith was held scoreless.
The Pacers are shooting 37.5% from the floor, compared the New York’s clip of 51.1%.
1Q: Knicks 27, Pacers 23
With their backs against the wall and facing elimination, the Knicks came out firing with Jalen Brunson scoring the team’s first six points as New York shot out to an early 10-point lead. Brunson finished the quarter with 14 points, hitting two 3-pointers as part of an 11-1 run, and Karl-Anthony Towns continued his aggressive play on both ends of the floor with five points and three rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton, who had a triple-double in Game 4, scored two points. Indiana shot 37% in the quarter.
Jalen Brunson stats
Knicks star Jalen Brunson had 32 points, five assists and five rebounds with 6:04 left in Game 5 against the Pacers. He shot 12-of-18 from the field and 4-for-7 from the 3-point line.
New York Knicks starting lineup
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges will start for the Knicks in Game 5 against the Pacers tonight.
Indiana Pacers starting lineup
Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner will start for the Pacers in Game 5 against the Knicks tonight.
What time is Pacers vs. Knicks?
The New York Knicks will host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
USA Today Staff predictions:
- Scooby Axson: Pacers 115, Knicks 109
- Cydney Henderson: Knicks 108, Pacers 102
- Lorenzo Reyes: Pacers 116, Knicks 110
- Heather Tucker: Knicks 97, Pacers 94
- James H. Williams: Knicks 102, Pacers 101
- Jeff Zillgitt: Knicks 111, Pacers 105
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks predictions: Expert picks for Game 5
ESPN: Pacers have the edge
According to ESPN Analytics, Indiana has a 54% chance of winning Game 5 against the New York Knicks (46%).
The site formula predicts that New York will beat Indiana.
Ryan Dodson writes: “I like the Pacers here because I don’t think there’s any way they can lose both games at home after the momentum they stole in New York.”
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Game 5 odds
The New York Knicks are favored to beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, according to BetMGM (odds as of Thursday, May 29):
- Spread: Knicks (-4.5)
- Moneyline: Knicks (-185); Pacers (+150)
- Over/under: 222.5
How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
- TV: TNT, truTV
- Stream: Sling TV, Fubo, Max
Watch Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5 on Fubo
Aaron Nesmith injury update
Aaron Nesmith will be available for Game 5 tonight, according to Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. Nesmith has been dealing with a right ankle sprain.
What channel is the NBA game tonight? How to watch NBA playoffs
The Pacers take on the Knicks at 8 p.m. ET with coverage on TNT, truTV and streaming on Max.
Where is Pacers-Knicks Game 5?
- The Knicks will host the Pacers from Madison Square Garden in New York City for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns injury update
Karl-Anthony Towns is going to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to Knicks. Towns went through his regular pre-game routine minutes before tipoff and did not appear to be in any obvious discomfort. The Knicks announced shortly before tipoff that Towns would be in the starting lineup along with Jalen Brunson, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. — Lorenzo Reyes
More on Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury from USA TODAY’s Lorenzo Reyes.
NBA championship odds
BetMGM odds forNBA Finals winner as of Wednesday, May 28:
- 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-750)
- 2. Indiana Pacers (+650)
- 3. New York Knicks (+2800)
Oklahoma City Thunder reach NBA Finals
Four victories. That’s what the Oklahoma City Thunder need to win the franchise’s first championship since 1979 when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Thunder reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 Wednesday in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
More from Thunder’s Western Conference Finals win.
When are the 2025 NBA Finals? Schedule
*-if necessary
- Game 1, June 5: TBD vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
- Game 2, June 8: TBD vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET | ABC
- Game 3, June 11: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
- Game 4, June 13: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
- Game 5, June 16: TBD vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC*
- Game 6, June 19: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC*
- Game 7, June 22: TBD vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET | ABC*
Pacers vs. Knicks remaining schedule: Eastern Conference Finals
- Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135
- Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109
- Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100
- Game 4, May 27: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
- Game 5, May 29: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.
- Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.*
- Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.*
NBA’s new era of parity
If the impending NBA Finals matchup of the league’s 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA’s owners intentionally brought on themselves.
While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties.
Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes. — Dan Wolken
Knicks vs Pacers rivalry
The Knicks and Pacers played six memorable playoff series against one another over an eight-season span, including two consecutive matchups in the Eastern Conference finals in 1999 and 2000. The anticipation for this latest matchup has also triggered nostalgia for those classic battles between Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing, and how the Knicks and Pacers turned into an NBA playoffs rivalry. Here are some of the best (or infamous) moments from Knicks vs. Pacers playoff series, courtesy of Mark Giannotto.
Why is Spike Lee a Knicks fan?
The New York Knicks’ historic postseason journey this year has not only reignited the passion of veteran Knicks fans but also attracted a new wave of supporters, uniting them in a shared sense of pride and excitement.
Among the most enthusiastic supporters is Spike Lee, a longtime leader of the Knicks fan base.
The film director is often seen in Knicks gear, sporting the standout orange and blue in some fashion, and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a superfan in October 2024.
Read more about Lee’s fandom.
Why is Timothee Chalamet a Knicks fan?
This rare and exciting moment has ignited enthusiasm for New York Knicks fans everywhere, including Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet.
Chalamet often joins the jubilant Madison Square Garden crowd alongside Spike Lee, a prominent figure on the Knicks’ sidelines. Chalamet’s fervent support for the Knicks, as reported by the New York Times, began during his high school days at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, when he was a budding actor striving to carve his niche.
Read more about Chalamet’s fandom.
Who is Mariska Hargitay?
Fans tuning in to a New York Knicks game have at some point probably seen actress Mariska Hargitay in the crowd at Madison Square Garden.
The star of the long-running NBC show “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” is a frequent presence along the sideline at MSG, with Knicks star Jalen Brunson calling the actress “my favorite person ever.” What better co-sign could a fan ask for?
Here’s what to know about Knicks superfan Mariska Hargitay.
2025 All-NBA team
Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA voted on the squad. View the complete list.
NBA champions by year
Winners over the last 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit NBA.com.
- 2023-24 — Boston Celtics
- 2022-23 — Denver Nuggets
- 2021-22 — Golden State Warriors
- 2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks
- 2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2018-19 — Toronto Raptors
- 2017-18 — Golden State Warriors
- 2016-17 — Golden State Warriors
- 2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2014-15 — Golden State Warriors
- 2013-14 — San Antonio Spurs
- 2012-13 — Miami Heat
- 2011-12 — Miami Heat
- 2010-11 — Dallas Mavericks
- 2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers
- 2007-08 — Boston Celtics
- 2006-07 — San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06 — Miami Heat
- 2004-05 — San Antonio Spurs
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