The New York Knicks made a strong statement in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. They showed that they are not ready to give up. The Knicks played with a lot of energy and purpose. They made it clear that they want to keep their season alive. They did not want to go down without a fight.

The Knicks had a big lead early in the game. Jalen Brunson scored six points in a row right at the start. He finished the game with 32 points. Brunson was tough and smart. He scored from inside and outside. He made the Pacers struggle from the beginning. Then, Karl-Anthony Towns took over. He scored 12 points in the second quarter. The Pacers had no answer for him. He scored easily inside the paint. The Knicks' stars set the tone for the game.

The Knicks also won the battle for rebounds and took more shots than the Pacers. They had fewer turnovers. They played with a lot of intent and purpose. The Knicks' defense was sharp. They guarded the ball well. Mikal Bridges did a great job on Tyrese Haliburton. OG Anunoby had three steals. Mitchell Robinson blocked shots and deterred the Pacers from getting to the rim. Landry Shamet came off the bench and had a big impact. The Knicks were connected, physical, and focused. They played like a team that believes in themselves.

The Knicks have shown that they can play at this level. They have the players to be a strong team. The question is, can they keep it up? They need to play like this in the next two games to come back from a 3-1 deficit. It's a tough task, but it's not impossible. The Knicks have shown that they won't give up easily. The Pacers will have to be the ones to make them quit. The Knicks have put all the pressure back on the Pacers. If the Pacers don't close the series at home, it could lead to a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden. That would be a big challenge for the Pacers.

The Knicks have the potential to be a great team. They have shown that they can play at a high level. But they need to be consistent. They can't just play like this every few games. They need to play like this every game. That's what separates good teams from championship teams. The Knicks want to be more than just good. They want to be champions. They won't walk away on their own. The Pacers will have to be the ones to make them.

New York Knicks Fight Back: Can They Keep It Up?

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