The New York Knicks demolished the Indiana Pacers 121-91 on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in their second round NBA Playoffs matchup.
After the game, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau shouted out guard Alec Burks, who has contributed in the last couple of games in the series after a season that saw him fall out of the rotation after being acquired by New York at the deadline.
Said Thibodeau on the Knicks' guard, “He's the ultimate pro. He's a combo guard…he can shoot, he can put it on the floor, and he's got experience and can think on his feet. So those are all things that are valuable, particularly in playoff situations. So, I'm not surprised. He's had a terrific career and I think he's got a lot left in the tank.”
With the Knicks ravaged by injuries, Burks stepped up and scored 18 points in 23 minutes on Tuesday. He went 6-11 from the floor, including 5-8 from the 3-point line.
In the Knicks' blowout loss in Game 4, Burks was perhaps the only bright spot for New York – leading the team with 20 points on 5-11 shooting in 23 minutes.
The Knicks acquired Burks along with the injured Bojan Bogdanovich at the NBA trade deadline in exchange for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and second-round picks.
Knicks lead Pacers 3-2 in NBA Playoffs series
After seeming to lose momentum in the series to the Pacers after getting blown out in Game 4, the Knicks returned the favor with their emphatic victory in Game 5.
The Knicks now find themselves just one win away from their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
Jalen Brunson scored 44 points, reaching 40 for the fifth time in this postseason, and Josh Hart had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The Knicks can win the series on Friday night on the road at Indiana after the first two-day break between games in the series. Caitlin Clark's WNBA home debut with the Indiana Fever is scheduled for Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which is causing the extra day gap between games.
The Knicks, who are dealing with multiple injuries, will likely welcome the rest day. OG Anunoby is hoping to return from a strained hamstring, and the rest of the team is playing significant minutes after having to pick up the load after losing Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bogdanovich at various points this season.
But New York keeps finding ways to win games, especially behind the play of Brunson – who is entering Bernard King territory with his level of scoring this postseason. King famously scored 40 or more points six times – one more than Brunson so far this postseason – in the 1984 NBA Playoffs.
Game 7, if it ends up being necessary, would be played on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
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