The New York Knicks’ tenacious and aggressive defensive effort played a pivotal role in limiting the impact of the Indiana Pacers’ star player, All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, as highlighted by Jared Schwartz in another article.
In Game 4, Haliburton delivered an impressive, turnover-free triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. However, in Game 5, the Knicks assigned their All-Defensive caliber swingman Mikal Bridges to guard Haliburton closely.
This defensive strategy effectively disrupted Haliburton’s rhythm, as he struggled to score from the field until the third quarter. The two-time All-Star finished the game shooting just 2-for-8, tallying only eight points.
Additionally, center Mitchell Robinson’s versatile defensive presence was instrumental in containing the Pacers across the court.
Veterans Landry Shamet and Delon Wright also contributed valuable defensive support, helping the Knicks maintain their edge on that end of the floor.
Knicks Notes: Robinson, Payne, Game 5, Defense https://t.co/cQWRlntUBw pic.twitter.com/cr2hSxhRWg
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 30, 2025
