At the Buzzer: R3G5 — Knicks 111, Pacers 94 | NY sends series back to Indiana

New York came out sharp, forced early turnovers, and leaned on Jalen Brunson (32pts) to stay alive; Indiana's starters struggled as the series shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 6.

Before the Eastern Conference Finals began, the Indiana Pacers outlined their approach: take it one day at a time — a 13-day battle to reach the NBA Finals.

Game 5 on Thursday night in New York marked day nine.

It was a must-win for the Knicks, facing elimination on their home floor. The Pacers entered riding a six-game road winning streak in the playoffs. Their only postseason loss before this came in Game 3 of the first round — in Milwaukee.

Could they carry that momentum, close it out, and finish the battle in nine days? That was the plan.

(Game box score)

• The game officials were Zach Zarba, Josh Tiven, James Williams, and Pat Fraher (alternate).

• Both Aaron Nesmith (right ankle sprain) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee contusion) were listed as questionable on the injury report — and both started.

• The TNT announcing crew — for the entire series: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy, and Allie LaForce. It’s Reggie’s 15th conference finals.

• Sports books favored the Knicks by 4.5 points.

Watch my live postgame show in the media player below:

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A sellout crowd of 19,812 saw the Knicks’ 17-point win, never trailing. (Photo: TNT)

🏀How it happened: Another spectacular crowd packed Madison Square Garden, ready for what could’ve been the Knicks’ final game of the season. Jalen Brunson came out aggressive, scoring the game’s first six points. Meanwhile, the Pacers were sloppy early, committing turnovers on their first two possessions while the Knicks scored on their first five. That forced head coach Rick Carlisle to burn a quick timeout — one of several he used trying to stop the bleeding.

Aaron Nesmith started on Brunson but was subbed out just three minutes into the game for rookie Ben Sheppard. Nesmith notably played less than 16 minutes as the Pacers started flat, struggled to push the pace, and couldn’t get consistent stops. The Knicks again scored on five straight trips late in the quarter but led only 27-23 after one.

New York continued to control the game in the second quarter, using a 21-6 run to build a 14-point lead. By then, Tyrese Haliburton had yet to make a field goal. He had only two points, and the Pacers desperately needed more from their All-Star guard and the entire starting unit.

Second-year forward Jarace Walker saw his first action of the series in the second quarter. But the contrast from Game 4 was stark: after scoring a franchise-record 43 first-quarter points in that game, Indiana had just 45 points at halftime and trailed by 11: 56-45.

Coming out of the locker room, the Pacers turned it over on their opening possession — just as they had to start the game. Brunson erupted for eight straight points, and Haliburton finally made his first field goal two and a half minutes into the third.

The Knicks’ lead ballooned to 20, aided by a 16-7 spurt while Indiana went scoreless for five minutes. The Pacers had no rhythm offensively — and little resistance on defense.

The bright spot? The bench. Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin were aggressive and effective, giving Indiana a much-needed spark. The Pacers trailed by as many as 22, but cut it to 17 entering the fourth, 90-73.

Indiana made one final push and trimmed the deficit to 12 with eight minutes remaining, but the Knicks responded with a 6-0 burst. After an and-one from Towns with 2:44 left, Carlisle waved the white flag, pulling most of the starters with Game 6 on the horizon.

Haliburton finished with eight points on 2-of-7 shooting. He’ll surely have text messages waiting from Reggie Miller, who frequently checks in, and skills coach Drew Hanlen, his longtime trainer and motivator.

As the late Michael Jackson once sang, the series is "Goin’ Back to Indiana."

🏀What it means: The Pacers failed to end the series, but they have up to two more chances to do so. They own a 3-2 series lead with another close-out game this weekend.

Over in the Western Conference, the OKC Thunder are playing the waiting game having already disposed of Minnesota in five games. Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on Thursday, June 5th in Oklahoma City.

🏀Turning point: After the Pacers had cut the deficit to 10 in the third quarter, they gave up 12 unanswered points to fall back down by 22 pts in just 1:43.

🏀Star of the game: Jalen Brunson. He set the tone early, scoring the first six points of the game and eight points in the second half. And he led the Knicks with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 34 minutes.

🏀Streaking: The Pacers fell to 11-4 in the postseason, their first time losing a game that wasn’t Game 3. The Knicks improved to 4-5 at home in the postseason.

🏀Stat(s) of note: The starters combined for just 37 points on 13-of-39 shooting. (The reserves combined for 57.)

The Pacers failed to reach the century mark for the first time in 15 playoff games. Their previous low was 100: Game 3 to New York.

The Knicks, led by 56 points combined from Brunson and Towns, had a 60-34 advantage in paint points.

Turnovers. Far too many of them by the Pacers: 19, a postseason high.

Mathurin posted consecutive 20-point games, matching his playoff career-high with 23 points and nine rebounds. He was 9 for 9 at the foul line — and 26 for 27 in the series.

Nesmith played just 16 minutes, half his usual workload, and was 1 of 8 for three points — his playoff low.

🏀What’s next: Game 6 is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. (Click here for the full series schedule)

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Other Notes

• 1:52 3Q: Officials reviewed a common foul on Miles McBride after Rick Carlisle wanted a flagrant for how he wrapped up Siakam. But the ruling was upheld.

• Tony Bradley asked out of the game in the third quarter due to a left hip strain.

• The Pacers were outscored in each of the first three quarters, and were even in the fourth.

• The Pacers continued to wear their yellow Statement Edition uniforms, and the Knicks were in white (yay!)

• In the stands: Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Bill Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Bernard King, Chris Childs, J.R. Smith, Stephon Marbury, Raymond Felton, Kurt Thomas, Lance Thomas, Chris Dudley, TIm Thomas, Latrell Sprewell, Larry Johnson, Michael Strahan, Tracy Morgan, Michael Imperioli, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Gayle King, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Shaboozey, Henrik Lundqvist, Garrett Wilson, Suni Lee, Idina Menzel, Bobby Flay, Skylar Astin, Joey Badass, Maude Apatow, Warren Haynes, Giveon, Susie Essman.

• Halftime act: Naughty by Nature

• Official attendance: 19,812 — a sellout.