In a pivotal Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers missed a crucial opportunity to close out the series against the New York Knicks. The Pacers suffered a 111-94 defeat at Madison Square Garden, marking their most lackluster offensive performance of the postseason.
Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had been a driving force in the Pacers’ playoff run, struggled significantly, recording only eight points on 2-of-7 shooting. His seven shot attempts were the fewest in any game this postseason, and he contributed to just 24% of the team’s points, a notable drop from his 41% involvement in previous games.
The Pacers’ starting lineup combined for a mere 37 points, the second-lowest for any team in a playoff game this year. Additionally, Indiana committed 20 turnovers, their highest in the postseason, disrupting their offensive rhythm and providing the Knicks with ample scoring opportunities.
Despite the setback, Haliburton remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. “We’re a resilient group,” he stated post-game. “We always want to respond when things don’t go well after a game like that. We understand what the stakes are… We’re fine. There’s no need to panic or anything.”
The Pacers have demonstrated their ability to bounce back throughout the playoffs, not having lost consecutive games since March. Forward Aaron Nesmith emphasized the team’s determination, saying, “You get punched in the face like this. Sometimes you got to lose to get better. That’s what happened today.”
Looking ahead, the Pacers will return to their home court for Game 6, holding a 3-2 series lead. The team aims to regroup and harness their home-court advantage to secure a spot in the NBA Finals. As forward Pascal Siakam noted, “It’s always been us against the world, and I don’t expect it to change. We are 3-2 in a series, and we have an opportunity to go back home and show what we’re made of.”
Game 6 is scheduled for Saturday night in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will strive to capitalize on their resilience and determination to advance in the playoffs.