THE New York Knicks refused to roll over and just die, staving off elimination by whipping the Indiana Pacers, 111-94, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday (Philippine time), May 30.

New York cut the series deficit to 2-3, refusing to see its season end in front of the raucous Madison Garden crowd.

Knicks fans chanted “Knicks in 7! Knicks in 7!” as the time winds down. It remains to be seen if New York can live up to their fans’ expectations as the crucial Game 6 will be played in Indiana on Sunday, June 1.

The Pacers only need one win to advance to the NBA Finals, where the Oklahoma City Thunder are already waiting. The Thunder clinched the first Finals seat by dispatching the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the West Finals.

It was only the Knicks’ first win on their home floor after dropping Games 1 and 2. No team in the NBA has won a conference series after losing the first two home games. The Knicks are looking to become just the 14th team in league history to overcome a 1-3 series deficit.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns played superb in the do-or-die match, leading the Knicks with 32 and 24 points, respectively.

Defense did it for the Knicks as they limited the Pacers to just 45 points in the first two quarters after giving up 43 in the first period of their 121-130 loss in Game 4.

New York led by 11 at the turn, 56-45, and stretched the advantage to 90-73 after the third perid.

After piling up 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds in Game 4, Tyrese Haliburton tallied just eight points, six assists, and two rebounds in Game 5 as the Pacers only had one starter in double figures in Pascal Siakam, who scored 15 points.

Reserve Ben Mathurin was Indiana’s top scorer with 23 points.(CCM)

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