Everything starts from the defensive end of the court.
For the New York Knicks to avoid elimination, to claw their way back into this Eastern Conference finals, they needed to find a way to slow down the track team known as the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks, for at least 48 minutes Thursday night, accomplished that goal, becoming the first team this postseason to hold the Pacers to under 100 points for a convincing 111-94 victory.
‘Celebrity Row’ was packed and got to witness the Knicks’ first win at home this series. They were a shocking 3-5 at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, coming into this game. Longtime Knicks fan and ambassador Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, former Indianapolis Colts punter/podcast host Pat McAfee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet were in attendance. Knicks legends Patrick Ewing and Walt “Clyde” Frazier, comedian Tracy Morgan, along with musicians Shaboozey, Idina Menzel and Joey Badass and world-class athletes Michael Strahan, Kevin Love and Henrik Lundqvist witnessed the win. Chef Bobby Flay and “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King were also in attendance.
The burning question for the Knicks now becomes whether this is something that can be sustained, whether Game 5 revealed a strategy they can implement 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 opening tip, the Knicks harassed Pacers starters, flying around the court and swarming. It was like the NYPD had handcuffs on the Pacers. New York held the Pacers’ starters to just 13 made field goals on an ice cold 33.3% shooting. Forward Pascal Siakam was the only starter to reach double-figures, and he recorded just 15 points. The Pacers’ entire first five combined for 37 points; their bench poured in 57.
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was coming off a historic performance with a 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double in Game 4, was held to eight points and six assists on a timid 2-of-7 shooting. In fact, Aaron Nesmith (eight attempts), Andrew Nembhard (eight), former Knick Obi Toppin (10) and Benedict Mathurin (10) all attempted more shots than Haliburton did. Maybe he needed his dad in the building.
“We obviously didn’t play with the level of force that we needed to,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We lost the rebound battle. We lost the turnover battle. We didn’t shoot well. They had a lot to do with it. So, give them a lot of credit and we’re going to have to play better.”
While wing defenders Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby spearheaded the defensive ambush, particularly on Haliburton, another player not known for his defense also stepped up. Throughout this series, point guard Jalen Brunson had been a huge target for the Pacers, who often used pick-and-rolls to attack Brunson, who vowed after Game 5 to raise his effort and intensity on defense.
Embed from Getty Images“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.”
Non-glamorous 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.”
Prior to Game 6 Saturday in Indianapolis, the Pacers will alter their game plan 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 looks to shoot.
But this was the Knicks bringing their A-Game to the forefront. When their defensive effort is on point like it was Thursday, it lends itself to other phases of their game.
They are able to force turnovers and increase their own output in transition, which leads to a barrage of points in the paint, an area where the Knicks took it to Indiana 60-34. That increased effort manifests on the glass, too, where New York claimed a +9 advantage. That, then, feeds second-chance points opportunities, 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.”
