Game ID: 42400305
Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 27 29 34 21 111IND 23 22 28 21 94
IND @ NYK ScoutingIND @ NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NYK availability going into 5/21 · 4 days' restOUT Wright missed 3 since 5/12, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 14)
BACK Tucker back 5/16 after 11, 4 min since (28% of 16)
BACK Shamet back 5/10 after 4, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NYK availability going into 5/23 · 1 day's restBACK Tucker back 5/16 after 11, 4 min since (28% of 16)
BACK Wright back 5/10 after 8, 2 min since (13% of 14)
BACK Shamet back 5/10 after 4, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NYK availability going into 5/25 · 1 day's restOUT Achiuwa missed 2 since 5/21, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 5/21, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 2 since 5/21, returns tonight: 11 min (83% of 14)
BACK Wright back 5/21 after 3, 0 min since (3% of 14)
NYK availability going into 5/27 · 1 day's restOUT Achiuwa missed 3 since 5/21, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 18)
OUT Tucker missed 3 since 5/21, out tonight
BACK Wright back 5/21 after 3, 7 min since (49% of 14)
BACK Shamet back 5/25 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NYK availability going into 5/29 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 4 since 5/21, out tonight
OUT Payne missed 2 since 5/25, out tonight
BACK Achiuwa back 5/27 after 3, 2 min since (13% of 18)
BACK Wright back 5/21 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Shamet back 5/25 after 2, 11 min since (82% of 14)
NYK availability going into 5/31 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 5 since 5/21, out tonight
OUT Payne missed 3 since 5/25, out tonight
BACK Achiuwa back 5/27 after 3, 4 min since (22% of 18)
BACK Wright back 5/21 after 3, 8 min since (59% of 14)
BACK Shamet back 5/25 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 14)
IND availability going into 5/21 · 7 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 86 since 11/04, out tonight
IND availability going into 5/23 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 87 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Nesmith 26 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 5/25 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 88 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 5/21, out tonight
NEW Nesmith 26 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 5/27 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 89 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 3 since 5/21, out tonight
NEW Nembhard 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Nesmith 26 to 31 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 5/29 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 90 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 4 since 5/21, returns tonight: 13 min (88% of 15)
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 5/25, returns tonight: 5 min (37% of 13)
NEW Nembhard 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Nesmith 26 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 5/31 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 91 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Walker back 5/29 after 4, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Bryant back 5/29 after 2, 5 min since (37% of 13)
IND availability going into 6/05 · 4 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 92 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Walker back 5/29 after 4, 10 min since (68% of 15)
BACK Bryant back 5/29 after 2, 9 min since (67% of 13)
IND availability going into 6/08 · 2 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 93 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Walker back 5/29 after 4, 10 min since (68% of 15)
BACK Bryant back 5/29 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 13)
IND availability going into 6/11 · 2 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 94 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 6/05, out tonight
BACK Bryant back 5/29 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 30 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Towns at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Tucker (4 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Haliburton at 26 and Siakam at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (90 straight), Walker (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-4 and the turnovers, New York giving it away 14 times a game to Indiana's 11. Call it New York 117, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
5/21 vs IND 135-138 — NYK notes
NYK lost 135-138 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 51% (48 of 94) to IND's 51%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 40 times to IND's 28 — 28 points from the stripe to their 21. NYK turned it over 15 times to IND's 7. Brunson led with 43 (15 of 25, 1 of 6 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Towns added 35, Bridges 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-28, but the other 4 periods went 110-102 against them. They led by as many as 17. Bridges's -15 in 46 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/23 vs IND 109-114 — NYK notes
NYK lost 109-114. NYK shot 48% (40 of 84) to IND's 52%, 11 of 32 from three. Brunson led with 36 (13 of 27, 5 of 12 from three); Bridges added 20, Towns 20. Q1 was theirs, 26-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-83 against them. Towns's -20 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/25 @ IND 106-100 — NYK notes
NYK won 106-100. NYK shot 44% (34 of 78) to IND's 44%, 11 of 32 from three. Towns led with 24 (8 of 17, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brunson added 23, Anunoby 16. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: NYK came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 6. NYK trailed 45-58 at the half and won the second half 61-42.
5/27 @ IND 121-130 — NYK notes
NYK lost 121-130. NYK shot 46% (38 of 82) to IND's 51%, 12 of 28 from three, and went to the line 39 times to IND's 32 — 33 points from the stripe to their 27. NYK turned it over 17 times to IND's 11, and IND turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 44-33 for them. Brunson led with 31 (9 of 19, 2 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Towns added 24, Anunoby 22. Q2 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 104-92 against them. Robinson's -20 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/29 vs IND 111-94 — NYK notes
NYK won 111-94. NYK shot 49% (44 of 89) to IND's 41%, 8 of 29 from three, and got to the line 22 times to IND's 29. NYK turned it over 15 times to IND's 20. Brunson led with 32 (12 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Towns added 24, Hart 12. The hinge was Q2, 29-22: a lead of 4 became 11, and the lead reached 22. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
5/31 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Haliburton at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (91 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and Towns at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Indiana minus-6. Call it Indiana 116, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
5/21 @ NYK 138-135 — IND notes
IND won 138-135 in 1 overtime. IND shot 51% (51 of 100) to NYK's 51%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 28 times to NYK's 40. IND turned it over 7 times to NYK's 15. Haliburton led with 31 (12 of 23, 4 of 12 from three); Nesmith added 30, Siakam 17. The hinge was Q3, 25-21: the deficit went from 7 to 3. IND trailed 62-69 at the half and won the second half 76-66. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
5/23 @ NYK 114-109 — IND notes
IND won 114-109. IND shot 52% (43 of 83) to NYK's 48%, 13 of 30 from three. Siakam led with 39 (15 of 23, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Turner added 16, Haliburton 14. The hinge was Q4, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead. IND trailed 49-52 at the half and won the second half 65-57. Turner was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
5/25 vs NYK 100-106 — IND notes
IND lost 100-106. IND shot 44% (34 of 77) to NYK's 44%, 5 of 25 from three. Haliburton led with 20 (7 of 15, 2 of 8 from three); Turner added 19, Siakam 17. Q2 was theirs, 28-19, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 20. Siakam's -21 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/27 vs NYK 130-121 — IND notes
IND won 130-121. IND shot 51% (45 of 88) to NYK's 46%, 13 of 32 from three, and got to the line 32 times to NYK's 39. IND turned it over 11 times to NYK's 17. The glass went 33-44 against them. Haliburton led with 32 (11 of 23, 5 of 12 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Siakam added 30, Mathurin 20. The hinge was Q1, 43-35: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Nesmith was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
5/29 @ NYK 94-111 — IND notes
IND lost 94-111. IND shot 41% (30 of 74) to NYK's 49%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to NYK's 22 — 24 points from the stripe to their 15. IND turned it over 20 times to NYK's 15, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. Mathurin led with 23 (6 of 10, 2 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Siakam added 15, Toppin 11. Q4 was theirs, 21-21, but the other 3 periods went 90-73 against them. Toppin's -26 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
5/31 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Haliburton at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (91 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and Towns at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Indiana minus-6. Call it Indiana 116, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
6/05 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. 7 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Haliburton at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (92 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 117, Indiana 111.
6/08 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Haliburton at 19 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (93 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 11 and the glass, where Indiana has been minus-1 a night and OKC minus-7. Call it OKC 117, Indiana 112.
6/11 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Haliburton at 18 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (94 straight), Walker (2 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it Indiana 116, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKAH A. Hukporti
DW D. Wright
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JF J. Furphy
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
TB T. Bradley
TB T. Bryant
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
NYK/IND the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Brunson, Towns carry Knicks to 111-94 victory that cuts Pacers' series lead to 3-2
NEW YORK -- — From Jalen Brunson 's sizzling start to the “Knicks in 7! Knicks in 7!” chants at the finish, this was New York's night.
Maybe it can still be the Knicks' series.
Brunson scored 32 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds despite a bruised left knee and the Knicks stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Indiana Pacers 111-94 on Thursday in Game 5.
The Knicks won on their home floor for the first time in the series and prevented the Pacers from earning the second NBA Finals trip in franchise history. Indiana will try again Saturday night at home.
“It’s a testament to our team answering the call,” Towns said.
New York extended its first trip to the conference finals since 2000 and kept alive hopes of becoming the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a series. No team has won a conference finals series after dropping the first two games at home.
Two nights after giving up 43 points in the first quarter, the Knicks held the Pacers to just 45 in the first half and limited Tyrese Haliburton , who had 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds Tuesday, to just eight points and six assists.
Brunson, outplayed by his point guard counterpart Tuesday, rebounded with his franchise-record 21st postseason game of 30 or more points with the Knicks.
“Our backs were against the wall. So, I mean, we’ve got to give it everything we got,” Brunson said.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench for the Pacers, who had won six straight road games. Indiana shot just 40.5% from the field in by far its lowest-scoring game of the postseason.
“We obviously didn’t play with the level of force that we needed to,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We lost the rebound battle. We lost the turnover battle. We didn’t shoot well. They had a lot to do with it. So, give them a lot of credit and we’re going to have to play better.”
Brunson scored 14 on 6-for-9 shooting in the first quarter as the Knicks held a 27-23 lead — giving up 20 fewer points than in the first quarter of Game 4, when they trailed 43-35.
Towns, who was questionable to play after hurting his left knee in a collision late in Game 4, picked up the slack with 12 in the second, when Brunson was scoreless.
Brunson came back with the Knicks’ first eight of the third quarter as they opened a 20-point lead midway through the period. The Pacers cut that in half before New York regained control with a 12-0 burst, highlighted by Brunson’s four-point play, to make it 86-64.
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This story has been corrected to show that Jalen Brunson had his 21st game with 30 or more points as a Knick. A previous version stated that it was his 20th game.