NEW YORK — It was always going to be on defense.
For the New York Knicks to stave off elimination, to get back in this Eastern Conference finals, they needed to somehow curb the Indiana Pacers. New York, for at least one game Thursday night, did exactly that, becoming the first team this postseason to hold Indiana to fewer than 100 points for a 111-94 victory.
The question for the Knicks now becomes whether this is something that can be replicated — whether Game 5 revealed a blueprint they can use to even the series at three games apiece.
“In this series, we haven’t lacked scoring, it has been more about us not stopping them from scoring,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said after the game. “I think tonight we did a great job of upping the pressure and making sure we were making it more difficult for them to get open looks and get those shots that they got comfortable with last game. It’s a testament to our team answering the call.”
From the tip, New York harassed Indiana’s starters, flying around the court and swarming. New York held the Pacers’ starters to just 13 made field goals on 33.3% shooting. Forward Pascal Siakam was the only starter to reach double-figures in scoring, and he recorded just 15 points. Indiana’s entire first five combined for 37 points; its bench poured in 57.
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was coming off a historic 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double in Game 4, was limited to eight points and six assists on 2-of-7 shooting. In fact, Aaron Nesmith (eight attempts), Andrew Nembhard (eight), Obi Toppin (10) and Benedict Mathurin (10) all attempted more shots than Haliburton did.
While wing defenders Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby led the defensive charge — particularly on Haliburton — another player not known for his defense also stepped up. Throughout this series, point guard Jalen Brunson had been a target for Indiana, which often set up pick-and-rolls to attack Brunson, who vowed after Game 5 to amp up his effort on defense.
“We picked up our intensity a little bit,” Brunson told reporters after the game. “We paid attention to detail better as a team. The little things go a long way.”
Little things like showing harder when Indiana tried to get Haliburton open in space, clogging the lanes he normally would have used to drive. Little things like sprinting back on transition defense to take away Indiana’s outlet passes and throw-ahead opportunities.
“They were just more aggressive than us from the jump,” Siakam said. “They brought the fight to us and I just don’t think we brought it enough.
“It was all about will and energy.”
Ahead of Game 6 Saturday in Indianapolis, the Pacers will tweak their operation and make adjustments. For example, coach Rick Carlisle said, “there’s more things I’m going to have to do to help” Haliburton get easier attempts to shoot.
But this was the very best version of the Knicks. When their defensive effort is like it was Thursday, it feeds other facets of their game.
They’re able to generate turnovers and increase their own output in transition, which leads to a barrage of points in the paint — an area where New York bullied Indiana 60-34. That increased effort manifests on the glass, too, where New York claimed a +9 advantage. That, then, feeds second-chance points, where the Knicks outscored the Pacers by a margin of 13-7.
“We’re going to have to be even better next game,” Towns said, “if we expect to have our season continue.”