NEW YORK – Staring down elimination at home, the New York Knicks responded with a 111-94 victory to send the series back to Indianapolis. Knicks fans will now look to Game 5’s execution as a blueprint for an improbable Eastern Conference Finals comeback against the Indiana Pacers.
The Knicks Have Unlocked The Blueprint To Break The Pacers
This marks the first time the Knicks have trailed in a series during the 2025 playoffs. They’ve had to look inward, and that soul-searching led to a significant lineup change. Josh Hart was benched in favor of Mitchell Robinson—a switch Hart reportedly called for. The move has positively impacted the series.
The Knicks coaching staff and players understand the odds. Teams trailing 3-1 in a playoff series have come back to win only 13 out of 284 times. Still, the Knicks now seem like real contenders to become the first team to do so since the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 bubble.
Let’s examine three keys from Game 5 that could push the Knicks to a Game 7.
Brunson and Towns Are Matchup Nightmares for the Pacers
Before Game 5, Jalen Brunson torched every Pacer defender except Aaron Nesmith. Brunson dominated Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard with size and shiftiness. Nembhard had more success than Sheppard, but Nesmith remained the primary defender. Through five games, Nesmith guarded Brunson for 32 minutes—more than any defender all postseason.
In Game 5, Brunson flipped the script. He handled Nesmith’s full-court pressure and nailed several step-back jumpers. His 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting showed his confidence. Nesmith was a game-time decision with an ankle injury, which may have affected his performance.
If Brunson has cracked that matchup, it’s huge. He’s averaged 33.0 points on 51.4/36.1/93.3 shooting splits in the Eastern Conference Finals. Imagine the success he would have now. Scary.
Karl-Anthony Towns also posted 24 points for the third consecutive game. In the first three games, he relied on his jumper, hitting multiple threes. Over the last two games, however, he’s driven more aggressively. Though his drives looked clumsy at times, they’ve become more balanced and effective.
Towns now attacks with control, finishing through contact instead of lunging for foul calls. His paint shot attempts jumped from 59% to 77.1% in the last two games. Myles Turner has struggled as his primary defender—Towns made 11 of 19 shots against him.
Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin have slowed Towns slightly, limiting him to 11-of-31 shooting on a small sample. Will Rick Carlisle shift defensive matchups to stop Towns? If not, pairing Towns with Brunson more could change the series, offsetting their defensive struggles when played together.
The Paint Has Become a No-Go Area
The Pacers thrived in transition and off turnovers throughout the playoffs. They led the final four with a 12.5% turnover rate while forcing opponents into mistakes.
But in Game 5, the Knicks flipped that dynamic. They forced a 20.6% turnover rate from Indiana while limiting themselves to 15.3%.
The Robinson–Towns pairing clogged the paint, forcing Indiana to move the ball along the perimeter. The Knicks used the baseline as an extra defender, disrupting passing lanes and forcing bad shots.
This perimeter pressure demands less energy than halfcourt defense and creates turnover opportunities. If the Knicks sustain this scheme, they could grind Indiana’s offense to a halt.
The Knicks Finally Have a Bench?
The Knicks had one of the league’s worst benches in the regular season. They’ve also ranked second-worst in playoff bench scoring. But Game 5 showed a surprising twist.
Tom Thibodeau trusted his reserves. Miles McBride (8), Landry Shamet (9), and Delon Wright (6) all played in the first half. That’s a major shift from earlier games, where Thibodeau barely used the bench.
If this change sticks, it could be massive. Thibodeau could finally rest starters without risking collapse. That’s critical at this stage of the playoffs.
Knicks Blueprint Against the Pacers: Hope or Just Flattering to Deceive?
The Knicks know the odds aren’t in their favor. They have the talent to pull off the comeback, but Game 6 will be in a hostile Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
If the patterns from Game 5 hold, the Knicks may return to Madison Square Garden for Game 7.
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