The Knicks know what’s on the road.
However so do the Indiana Pacers.
That’s why the Knicks aren’t getting too excessive, nor are the Pacers getting too low, because the Japanese Convention Finals shift again to Indianapolis for Recreation 6 on Saturday night time.
“We have no more room for error,” Knicks heart Karl-Anthony Cities stated. “It’s our backs against the wall, and every game is do or die. So, if we don’t bring that energy, we don’t bring that execution, our season will be over.”
Thursday night time’s 111-94 win in Recreation 5 at Madison Sq. Backyard saved the Knicks’ season alive, however they’re nonetheless in a 3-2 gap within the best-of-seven sequence.
The percentages stay in opposition to them — solely 16.1% of groups have overcome a 3-2 deficit in NBA playoff historical past — however the Knicks are coming off their finest all-around efficiency of the sequence.
The Knicks restricted Indiana’s high-powered offense to a series-low 94 factors on simply 40.5% capturing, together with 33.3% on 3-point makes an attempt.
They ramped up their strain, with Mikal Bridges repeatedly assembly Pacers level guard Tyrese Haliburton within the backcourt and disrupting the stream of Indiana’s uptempo offense.
And the Knicks’ deeper rotation — specifically Landry Shamet, who delivered a number of defensive highlights Thursday — has paid dividends, notably in wins in Video games 3 and 5.
Now it’s the Pacers’ flip to regulate.
They’re assured they’ll.
“I’ll be better in Game 6,” stated Haliburton, who managed solely eight factors on 2-of-7 capturing with six assists in Recreation 5 after erupting for 32 factors, 12 rebounds and 15 assists with no turnover in Indiana’s Recreation 4 win.
“We’ve got to be better as a group. Our pace has to be better, and that starts with me. I’ve got to be better there. As a group, we’ve shown that we can have some success [in] this playoffs. It was a rough showing for us tonight, so we’ll watch the film, see where we can get better and be great.”
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 factors, together with 14 within the first quarter to set the tone and 16 within the third quarter to assist maintain the Pacers at arm’s size. Brunson shot 12-of-18 and added 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
That big-time efficiency got here hours after Pacers head coach Rick Carlise acknowledged that it’s “always hard” to win a closeout sport.
“One team’s trying to move on and one team’s trying to stay alive,” Carlise stated throughout his pregame press convention. “It’s never not the hardest game.”
The Pacers will strive once more at residence, the place they’re 1-1 on this sequence and 5-2 this postseason.
Indiana has not misplaced back-to-back video games in these playoffs, persevering with a streak that dates again to early March.
“We’re a resilient group,” Haliburton stated. “We always want to respond when things don’t go well after a game like that. We understand what the stakes are and we understand the conversation, what it will be around our group. But we’re fine. There’s no need to panic.”
After scoring 50 factors within the paint of their 130-121 win in Recreation 4, the Pacers have been outscored there 60-34 on Thursday.
The Pacers are at their finest after they pressure turnovers and rating in transition. Whereas the Pacers nonetheless turned 15 turnovers into 20 factors and scored 16 fastbreak factors in Recreation 5, the Knicks almost matched them in these classes, largely taking that benefit away from Indiana.
“You’re going to have bad games. This is the NBA, and there’s going to be times where a team is going to play hard. They’re going to beat you,” stated Pascal Siakam, who, with 15 factors, was the one Pacers starter to attain in double-figures.
“It is just all about us, man. It’s always been us against the world, and I don’t expect it to change. … We’re up 3-2 in a series, and we have an opportunity to go back home and show what we’re made of.”
The Knicks are attempting to turn into the 14th group in NBA historical past (out of 298) to return again from a 3-1 deficit. They’d turn into the primary group to win a convention finals after shedding Video games 1 and a couple of at residence.
They will get one step nearer with a win in Recreation 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“As soon as the ball is tossed up in the air, we’ve got to be ready to go,” Brunson stated. “That’s our mindset.”
