Fresh from keeping their season alive with a much-needed Game Five victory, the New York Knicks will head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday aiming to tie their Eastern Conference finals matchup against the Indiana Pacers at three wins apiece.
Back on home turf after a disappointing display last time out, the Pacers will be keen to close out the series with a win to avoid going back to New York for a win-or-go-home Game Seven.
Match preview
© Imago
The Indiana Pacers headed to Madison Square Garden on Friday with a chance to eliminate the Knicks and emerge champions of the Eastern Conference but came up well short of the challenge posed by their hosts.
Tallying just 94 points across the 48 minutes of action, Rick Carlisle's men recorded their fewest points in a game since early February on a night when their characteristically lethal offensive engine failed to spark.
Second only to his Game Three horror show against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs so far, Tyrese Haliburton had a rare night to forget, putting up just eight points on 2-7 shooting from the field.
Haliburton was quick to take responsibility for the defeat and will be looking forward to delivering an instant response in Game Six, although the rest of his teammates will also need to be better this weekend.
Sunday's hosts are still yet to lose consecutive matches this postseason and will be confident of bouncing back with a victory in front of their fans to secure safe passage to their first NBA finals in 25 years.
© Imago
With their backs firmly against the wall, the New York Knicks produced by far their best performance of the series so far en route to a 111-94 triumph to keep their season alive in front of a roaring home support.
Tom Thibodeau's men were guilty of starting well off the pace in their Game Four defeat but flew out of the blocks at the start of each quarter this time around to take a commanding 17-point lead, which they maintained down the final stretch.
Unsurprisingly, Jalen Brunson was the star of the show once again with 32 points, five rebounds, five assists and a +/- score of 18, although Karl-Anthony Towns was also instrumental with a third straight 20-point double-double.
Having taken the first step in their quest to overturn a seemingly unassailable 3-1 deficit, the Knicks are now seeking to restore parity in Indianapolis, where they have lost all but one of their last eight postseason encounters dating back to 2013.
Despite a routine win last time out, Sunday's visitors shot just 68% and 28% from the free-throw line and behind the three-point arc respectively, and both numbers will need to go up against what is set to be a much-improved Pacers outfit.
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Team News
© Imago
Twenty-three-year-old Isaiah Jackson is out of contention for the Indiana Pacers with a calf issue and will not return to first-team contention until next season.
Aaron Nesmith saw his minutes significantly reduced last time out, as he was only passed fit a few hours leading up to the contest, and it remains to be seen if the forward will be ready to feature in a more prominent capacity here.
Backup center Tony Bradley is a major injury doubt for the home side this weekend, having come off with a hip problem in the third quarter of Friday's match.
Karl-Anthony Towns has continued to play through a knee issue all series long and is expected to suit up once again for the New York Knicks for a must-win encounter.
Josh Hart recorded a second straight double-double off the bench in Game Five but is likely to miss out on a starting spot once again in favour of Mitchell Robinson.
Indiana Pacers possible starting five:
Haliburton, Nembhard; Nesmith, Siakam; Turner
New York Knicks possible starting five:
Brunson, Bridges; Anunoby, Towns; Robinson
We say: Pacers to win by 6+ points
The Pacers have their best opportunity to put the seal on proceedings with a home win here and will know returning to New York for a Game Seven leaves them in a precarious situation.
We are backing the home side to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
Adepoju Marvellous
