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The New York Knicks staved off elimination from the NBA Playoffs on Thursday night with a 111-94 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, but basketball great Charles Barkley is not sold on the NBA championship coming back to the Big Apple.
In a post-game interview with award-winning director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee on “Inside the NBA,” Barkley let slip his true feelings about the Knicks’ chances of winning their first championship since 1973.
Spike Lee, center, reacts while watching the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in New York City. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
“I would give up an Academy Award, Oscar for the Knicks to win a championship,” Lee said during the broadcast. “I got two already,”
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As Lee went on to double down on his commitment to the team, he was interrupted by Barkley’s quip.
“You gonna keep them.”
The remark incited laughs from the entire TNT crew and Barkley apologized for not using his “inner voice.”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, #11, controls the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, #2, in the fourth quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
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“There’s no filter on this guy, you’ve known him long enough. If he thinks it, it’s coming out,” Ernie Johnson Jr. added with a laugh.
Despite Barkley’s doubts, the Knicks did put on an award-worthy show on Thursday night.
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, and an injured Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds just two nights after giving up 43 points to the Pacers in the first quarter.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, #32, shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, #5, and guard Andrew Nembhard, #2, in the fourth quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
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“Our backs were against the wall. So, I mean, we’ve got to give it everything we got,” Brunson said.
The Knicks return to Indiana hoping to repeat their Game 5 performance on Saturday night. No team has won a conference finals series after dropping the first two games at home.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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