Knicks Stave Off Elimination in Game 5, but Barkley Throws Shade at Spike Lee’s Championship Hopes
Sarah Johnson
May 30, 2025
Brief
Knicks dominate Pacers in Game 5, but Charles Barkley doubts their championship hopes, shading Spike Lee on air.
The New York Knicks kept their playoff dreams alive with a commanding 111-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night. Jalen Brunson lit up the scoreboard with 32 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns, battling through injury, delivered 24 points and 13 rebounds to help the Knicks avoid elimination. This was no small feat, especially after a rough Game 4 where the Pacers dropped 43 points in the first quarter alone.
But not everyone’s buying the Knicks’ championship hype. In a lively post-game chat on Inside the NBA, Knicks superfan and acclaimed director Spike Lee proclaimed he’d trade an Oscar for a Knicks title—his third, mind you. Charles Barkley, never one to hold back, quipped, “You gonna keep them.” The TNT crew erupted in laughter, with Ernie Johnson Jr. noting Barkley’s lack of a filter. Barkley later apologized for not using his “inner voice,” but the shade was thrown, and the message was clear: he’s not betting on a Knicks championship just yet.
Despite Barkley’s skepticism, the Knicks’ performance was nothing short of cinematic. Facing a do-or-die moment, they delivered with grit and heart. Now, they head back to Indiana for Game 6 on Saturday, aiming to defy history—no team has ever won a conference finals series after losing the first two games at home. Can the Knicks pull off the impossible? Or will Barkley’s doubts prove prophetic?
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Editor's Comments
Charles Barkley tossing shade at Spike Lee is peak playoff drama—like a jump shot from half-court that rims out. The Knicks are fighting like they’ve got something to prove, but Barkley’s got a point: history’s not on their side. Here’s a joke for ya—why’d Spike bring his Oscars to the game? Because he knows the Knicks’ trophy case is lonelier than a Pacers fan in Madison Square Garden!
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