Pacers Hold 3-2 Lead After Knicks Win Game 5 Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals by defeating the Indiana Pacers 111-94 in Game 5, preventing Indiana from clinching their second NBA Finals trip. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 24 points and 13 rebounds despite a bruised knee, and the team excelled defensively by holding the Pacers to just 40.5% shooting and limiting star guard Tyrese Haliburton to eight points and six assists. The Knicks' strong defense included minimizing three-point and paint scoring and controlling the defensive glass with only eight offensive rebounds allowed. The Pacers, who had won six straight road games and entered as heavy favorites to close out the series, struggled with turnovers and poor shooting, undermining their usual strengths. The series now shifts back to Indiana for Game 6 with the Pacers holding a 3-2 lead, while the Knicks aim to avoid elimination and extend their first conference finals run since 2000.