The Pacers had a chance to clinch the Eastern Conference Finals series against the Knicks on Thursday night, but New York wasn’t going to let that happen in Madison Square Garden, routing Indiana 111-94.
The Knicks got on the board early and often, with star guard Jalen Brunson scoring 12 of the first 13 points for New York. Indiana needed a boost, and typically, in this series, they got one from their own star guard, Tyrese Haliburton.
He had looked like the MVP of the series through the first four games. Unfortunately for Indiana, he wasn’t his normal self in Game 5 and appeared to be almost unwilling to shoot or play his regular style while facing New York’s intense defense.
Here’s a look at Haliburton’s stats and highlights from the Game 5 loss to the Knicks.
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Tyrese Haliburton Game 5 stats vs. Knicks
- Minutes: 32
- Points: 8
- Rebounds: 2
- Assists: 6
- Steals: 2
- Turnovers: 0
- Fouls: 1
- FG: 2-7 (28.6%)
- 3FG: 0-2
- FT: 4-5 (80%)
The first thing that catches your eye about how Haliburton played in Game 5 is his shots. Through the first four games of the series, he had at least 15 shot attempts, but in Game 5, he had just seven, making just two.
When he was shooting, Haliburton wasn’t contributing much otherwise. He had a triple-double in Game 4 but didn’t come close in Game 5. He wasn’t heavily involved in rebounding and barely shot, despite still connecting with teammates on a decent number of assists. Haliburton averaged 24 points in each of the first four games of the series, but he had just eight in Game 5.
The Knicks made a concentrated effort not to let Haliburton beat them. Knicks start Jalen Brunson was asked heading into the fourth quarter how they had kept Haliburton at bay, and he answered succinctly, “as a team,” indicating that stopping Haliburton was a team-wide priority. And it worked.
Postgame, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said that while Haliburton “missing some shots he normally makes” played a factor, he was proud of his team’s defensive efforts as well.
“I thought our guys were tied together and trying to make him work for everything,” Thibodeau said of Haliburton. “That’s what you have to do.”
Knicks take game 5 of ECF w/111-94 win over Indy. Pacers Haliburton who was the star of game 4, only scored 8pts on 7 shots. NY HC Thibs on defense team played. @WBLS1075NYC pic.twitter.com/AXiREAAMqj
— Bobby Childs (@Openline_childs) May 30, 2025
Knicks fans are always passionate, but they are not wasting their opportunity to celebrate Haliburton’s struggles.
They’re beating up a Tyrese Haliburton doll outside of MSG 😭 pic.twitter.com/svl6fBNrWC
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 30, 2025
Haliburton himself admitted he had a rough performance, saying “I gotta be better” postgame.
“Rough night for me,” Haliburton said. “I’ll watch the film, there were some different things they did defensively. But for the most part, I think their base stuff was the same. … I’ll be better in Game 6.”
The Pacers star also said he expected the Knicks to “come out and play hard” with their season on the line.
“Now it’s on us to respond in Game 6,” Haliburton said. “Put it on me, and I’ll be better.”
How Knicks defense slowed down Tyrese Haliburton in Game 5
One of the things that changed in Game 5 is that Mikal Bridges is sticking Haliburton like glue on defense. He didn’t give the guard any room to work and was on him off-ball throughout the game.
The Knicks defensive intensity has been so high up this game, this play is after Mitchell’s rejection of Haliburton. pic.twitter.com/Djw3EeO4iH
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 30, 2025
This whole possession is played at frenetic pace because of the pressure Mitchell applies to Turner and Bridges denial on Haliburton pic.twitter.com/LzUtc6KI44
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) May 30, 2025
If you watched the Thunder series against the Timberwolves, you saw MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander working through contact when he went into the lane. He seeks out contact to try and draw fouls. Haliburton went into the paint weakly and paid for it by Mitchell Robinson sending his shot into the crowd.
Mitchell Robinson SWATS Haliburton’s shot into the earth pic.twitter.com/KCGCXkW9iY
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 30, 2025
Part of the difference has been the Knicks finally adjusting to not letting the Pacers attack their big men off screens. They adjusted really well in Game 5, and now Indiana will have to find a way to counter the counter in Game 6.
The AAA of screen setting is:
Always, Arrive, Alone
The Knicks did a much better job tonight keeping Haliburton away from hunting KAT.
For most of the series, guys like Turner have sprinted to screen and arrived alone. MUCH MORE work being done before the POA itself.… pic.twitter.com/uh0psK62mG
— Chris Steed (@steeder10) May 30, 2025
Indiana fans will likely have some gripes with the officiating — or lack thereof — in the game. There were certainly times where it looked like a Knicks player was literally hugging Haliburton to keep him from moving, and they didn’t call anything.
They just showed a highlight of “great Knicks defense” and it was literally just Bridges hugging Haliburton with no foul lol
— Collin Jennings (@CollinJenning16) May 30, 2025
Nonetheless, Haliburton left the court smiling after the game. It could have been in response to hearing fans talk trash, but the guard was in good spirits after his worst game since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Cleveland. Clearly, he has confidence in his team in Game 6.
Tyrese Haliburton walks off the court laughing and smiling after losing game 5
This dude really thinks he’s SGA man, I’m out 😭✌️ pic.twitter.com/xlbYKN698x
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) May 30, 2025
