Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a critical 111-94 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5, and after the victory, he spoke candidly about the team’s defensive urgency and mental approach.
The All-Star guard, who poured in 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting, said the team’s early focus was the difference. “Yeah, just happy with the way we responded, honestly,” Brunson said. “We just came out and we had some energy in the way we played.”
New York held Indiana to 23 first-quarter points, a stark contrast from the 43 they allowed in the opening frame of Game 4.
Brunson explained that attacking the paint was both a strategic priority and a result of effective ball movement. “It’s a little bit of both,” he said. “If they collapse, we were kicking out and just trying to make the right play.”
Defensively, Brunson acknowledged Indiana’s plan to target him in pick-and-roll sets but showed no signs of frustration. “They’re going to try and do their game plan as best they can, and we’re going to try to do ours the best we can,” he said.
Asked whether Tyrese Haliburton’s dominant Game 4 influenced his mindset, Brunson said his focus was solely on helping the Knicks win. “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I need to play better than him,’” he said. “I was just thinking, ‘I need to help my team win.’”
He scored 14 points in the first quarter, including back-to-back threes that set the tone. “Yeah, set a tone for sure,” Brunson said. “Just trying to make sure that we’re all on the same page, we’re all ready to go.”
Looking ahead to Game 6 in Indiana, Brunson emphasized focus. “Watching film, getting better, and then being ready to go… That’s our mindset,” he said.
Brunson credited the team’s improved effort on Haliburton to better attention to detail. “The little things go a long way,” he said. “When we pay attention to the minute things… they really do help.”
He also praised the contributions of Delon Wright and Landry Shamet, who provided valuable minutes off the bench. “It’s a credit to their work ethic, credit to what they do and the professionals that they are,” Brunson said.
The Knicks now trail the series 3-2, needing another road win to stay alive in the Eastern Conference finals.
Game 6 tips off Saturday night in Indianapolis.
