The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks square off on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in a critical Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, with the Pacers holding a commanding 3–1 series lead and just one win away from reaching the NBA Finals. Indiana has imposed its high-octane, transition-heavy style throughout the series, overwhelming the Knicks with pace, depth, and versatility that has exposed New York’s vulnerabilities on both ends of the court. Tyrese Haliburton has been the clear engine behind Indiana’s offensive success, controlling tempo with poise while exploiting every opportunity in transition and pick-and-roll situations, where he’s consistently found mismatches and created easy looks for teammates. Pascal Siakam has complemented him perfectly, attacking from multiple spots on the floor, converting difficult shots, and drawing defenders away from the paint, allowing Indiana’s shooters and cutters to thrive in space. The Pacers’ bench, led by TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin, has significantly outperformed the Knicks’ reserves, providing crucial energy and scoring that has helped Indiana sustain momentum when Haliburton and Siakam rest. Defensively, Indiana has focused on disrupting Jalen Brunson’s rhythm, throwing multiple looks and bodies at him while pressuring New York’s ball handlers into turnovers that quickly turn into transition buckets—an area where Indiana has feasted in this series.

On the other side, the Knicks find themselves staring down elimination on their home court, a place where they’ve been formidable this postseason but will now need a near-perfect performance to extend their season. Brunson continues to shoulder a massive offensive load, but New York’s stagnant half-court sets and reliance on isolation play have made them easier to defend, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns questionable due to a knee contusion that could further sap their interior scoring and rebounding. If Towns is unavailable or limited, the burden will shift to Julius Randle, Josh Hart, and perhaps Mitchell Robinson—who could see an expanded role defensively—to control the glass and protect the paint against Indiana’s cutting-heavy motion offense. Head coach Tom Thibodeau will likely emphasize slowing the game down, limiting turnovers, and winning the battle in the half court, where New York’s defense can still exert some control. However, the pace of the series has not suited the Knicks, and unless they make significant adjustments to their defensive rotations and ball movement, the Pacers appear primed to close the door. Indiana’s 4–1 record ATS as road underdogs this postseason underscores their ability to deliver in hostile environments, and their cohesion and depth have been superior to a New York squad that is running out of answers. Game 5 will come down to whether the Knicks can muster one last stand behind their home crowd and elite defense, or if the Pacers, with momentum fully on their side, can continue their surge and punch a long-awaited ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.