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With their season on the brink, KAT and the Knicks made a powerful entrance.
New York never found themselves behind during Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, securing a victory that brings them back to Indiana for Game 6 (Saturday at 8 PM ET on TNT).
**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S PUBLICATION 🏀**
May 30, 2025
**Dynamic Pair:** Brunson & Towns propel Knicks past Pacers to push for Game 6.
**Tempo Tactic:** How New York neutralized Haliburton and triumphed over Indy on their own turf.
**Initial Step Achieved:** The Knicks aim to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
**Rising Thunder:** From 68 wins to a record playoff run, OKC continues its ascent.
**Western Conference Finals Moments:** A look back at the West Finals through eight standout images.
**BUT FIRST … ⏰**
See you Saturday…
**WNBA Friday:** As excitement builds for Saturday’s Game 6 between the Knicks and Pacers, don’t miss a full slate of five WNBA games, featuring last year’s finalists — the champion Liberty and runner-up Lynx, both aiming for a perfect 6-0 start to the season.
1. **BRUNSON, TOWNS POWER KNICKS TO GAME 6**
Jesse D. Garrabrant & Sarah Stier/NBAE via Getty Images
They had faced this situation before.
With their season on the line, New York’s star duo Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns ensured that the Knicks’ journey did not conclude at home—at the hands of the Pacers—for the second consecutive year.
Knicks 111, Pacers 94: Brunson (top scorer with 32 points, 5 assists, 4 three-pointers) and Towns (24 points, 13 rebounds, game-best +26) combined for a remarkable 56 points on Thursday, leading the Knicks past the Pacers in their first uninterrupted win of this thrilling Eastern Conference Finals.
Throughout the matchup, Brunson and Towns alternated as the lead scorer each quarter.
In addition to their exceptional performances, the Knicks also received 12 points each from Mikal Bridges (6-of-12 FG, 5 assists) and Hart (4-of-8 FG, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals)—showcasing a Villanova connection with a key play in the 4th quarter as Brunson passed to Bridges, who then assisted Hart for the final basket.
2. **PACE CONTROL: KNICKS ALTER TEMPO TO CLAIM GAME 5**
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On Tuesday, Tyrese Haliburton exited the Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a historic performance: 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and zero turnovers in Game 4.
His spectacular effort nearly pushed the Pacers into the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years by finishing off the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
However, with Haliburton firing on all cylinders and a Finals slot within reach, the Knicks’ defense ramped up its intensity—determined to prevent history from repeating itself.
The Knicks’ defensive strategy was not purely a reaction to urgency; they also entered the game with a clear objective—shut down Haliburton.
That defensive intensity not only disrupted Indiana’s offense but also energized New York’s attack.
**Winning Strategy:** The Pacers have now been limited to 100 points or less seven times this season, with two of those instances occurring in this series—both resulting in victories for the Knicks.
3. **KNICKS INITIATE HISTORIC COMEBACK ATTEMPT**
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The Knicks become the 297th team in NBA playoff history to be faced with a 3-1 deficit.
Out of the previous 296 teams, only 13 have succeeded in coming back to win their series.
This translates to a mere 4.39% success rate.
The Knicks took their first step towards becoming the 14th team with a 111-94 victory over the Pacers at home in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
After surviving their initial elimination match, New York’s next objective is to secure a win on the road in Indiana for Game 6, thereby forcing a Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Remarkable comebacks have defined the 2025 playoffs—with six instances of teams erasing 20+ point deficits establishing a new record for the most in a single playoff season since the analytics era. Five of those six have been accomplished by either the Knicks or Pacers.
While they have consistently shown their ability to mount comebacks in individual games, the Knicks are looking to achieve their first 3-1 series comeback in franchise history.
4. **RISING THUNDER: OKC’S ASCENT REACHES NEW HEIGHTS**
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“Excellence” may not fully capture what the Thunder have accomplished this season.
OKC has secured its first NBA Finals appearance since 2012 after a remarkable 68-14 record in the regular season and a 12-4 journey through the Western Conference playoffs. Guided by Kia NBA MVP and West Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team has maintained its position as the No. 1 seed.
“They represent everything it means to be a team,” expressed coach Mark Daigneault, as he accepted the Oscar Robertson trophy. “They’ve earned this opportunity.”
While establishing themselves as the dominant force in the West, the Thunder have turned the Paycom Center into a challenging venue for visiting teams.
The Thunder’s strong defensive performance has been pivotal to their championship-caliber regular season—and they’ve further tightened their defense during the playoffs.
5. **FOCUS ON WEST FINALS: EIGHT KEY IMAGES**
One battle. Two contenders. Five contests.
Before we transition our attention to the final showdown, let’s reflect on the hard-fought Western Conference Finals through eight of our favorite snapshots.
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
