The New York Knicks’ season is on the line on Thursday night as they take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
New York enters the game trailing 3-1 in the series and are one loss away from their season being over and Indiana reaching the NBA Finals.
Of course, the Knicks have lost both of their home games thus far in the series but they will try to keep their season alive in front of their home crowd on Thursday night in a must-win situation.
Spike Lee
Feb 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; American filmmaker Spike Lee reacts to an official in the third quarter between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.
© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
One Knicks’ fan who is in attendance for Thursday’s game, like almost all of New York’s home games, is Spike Lee who sat down with the NBA on TNT crew ahead of Game 5.
Before the game, Ernie Johnson asked Lee if he would be satisfied with the Knicks making it this far to in the playoffs if they were to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I would give up an Academy Award. Oscar, for the Knicks to win a championship,” Lee responded.
“Well you’re gonna keep them,” Charles Barkley hilariously responded to Lee’s claim.
Lee quickly laughed off Barkley’s response despite it being a jab at his favorite team in the Knicks as Barkley clearly believes that New York’s season is about to come to an end in the Eastern Conference Finals after they fell behind 3-1 in the series.
Despite this, teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit in a series before but it is rare, especially with the way the Pacers have outmatched the Knicks thus far.
Jalen Brunson
Feb 28, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts with guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The good news for New York is that they will have their star center Karl-Anthony Towns on the court on Thursday night after he was listed as questionable due to a knee contusion and the Knicks will need him, Jalen Brunson and the rest of their core to step up if they want to keep their season alive.