Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lead Knicks to victory over Pacers and force Game 6

NEW YORK.— Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points with 13 rebounds, despite a left knee contusion, to lead the New York Knicks to a resounding 111-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

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With this victory, the Knicks avoided elimination and reduced the Pacers’ lead to 3-2 in the series. New York remains in the fight for a place in the NBA Finals, prolonging their first conference finals appearance since the year 2000.

“It’s a testament to our team answering the call,” Towns said after the game.

Brunson set the pace from the start with 14 points in the first quarter and finished with his 21st postseason game with 30 or more points, a franchise record. The Dominican Towns, who was questionable to play, was decisive in the second quarter while Brunson rested.

The Knicks demonstrated defensive solidity by containing Tyrese Haliburton, a key player for the Pacers in the previous game, to only 8 points and 6 assists. Indiana, which was coming off six consecutive away wins, had its worst offensive performance of this postseason.

“Obviously we didn’t play with the level of force we needed,” admitted Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. “We lost the rebounding battle, the turnover battle, and we didn’t shoot well. They had a lot to do with that. You have to give them credit.”

The sixth game will be played on Saturday in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will seek to close out the series and secure their place in the NBA Finals for the second time in their history.