Knicks Force Game 6 After 111-94 Win Over Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks kept their 2025 Eastern Conference Finals hopes alive with a dominant 111-94 win against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5, cutting their series deficit to 3-2 and forcing a Game 6. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points and strong all-around play, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a double-double, and five Knicks players scored in double digits. The Knicks' defense stifled the Pacers, holding them below 100 points for the first time in 15 postseason games, despite Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton's earlier historic triple-double in Game 4. Fan reactions celebrated the Knicks' resilience and the mounting pressure on the Pacers, although some still predicted Indiana closing out the series. Meanwhile, Magic Johnson publicly advised the Knicks to reinstate Josh Hart in the starting lineup, sparking debate about lineup adjustments amid the series. Off the court, Pacers fan Hans Perez, who was harassed by Knicks fans earlier in the playoffs, received a hero's welcome from the Pacers organization at Game 4, highlighting the intense fan rivalry surrounding this series.