Will Knicks take 3-2 series lead over Pacers? Our Game 5 keys and prediction

Win and regain control of the series.

Lose and be forced to stave of elimination on the road.

That’s the situation the New York Knicks find themselves in heading into Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

After dropping Games 3 and 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Knicks lost their two-game lead on the Pacers and are now even at two games apiece in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Jalen Brunson isn’t 100 percent as he continues to deal with his foot injury. The Knicks are again likely going to be without OG Anunoby because of a hamstring injury.

Tom Thibodeau’s team looked terrible in Game 4, getting blown out 121-89.

Can they recover in Game 5?

Here are three keys and a prediction:

Keep the Pacers from getting out in transition

The Pacers are an explosive offensive team that thrives in a fast-paced game where they can get out in transition.

Indiana scored 22 fast-break points in Game 4.

The Knicks have to limit their turnovers and crash the glass for offensive rebounds to keep the Pacers from generating those fast-break opportunities.

Finding a way to slow the game down to dictate the pace is going to be crucial for the Knicks.

Get Donte DiVincenzo going

DiVincenzo has largely been fantastic in the playoffs – especially in the four games leading up to Sunday’s Game 4 debacle.

In that stretch, DiVincenzo averaged 27.8 points and shot a blistering 49.4 percent from the field and a scorching hot 56.1 percent.

DiVincenzo delivered big three-pointer after big three-pointer.

But much like the rest of the Knicks’ offense, that came to a crashing end in Game 4. He was just 3-of-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from three-point range.

At a time when Brunson isn’t himself, the Knicks need to make the extra pass, find DiVincenzo and get him into a rhythm.

The Knicks absolutely need his shooting.

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Get help from the bench

We know that Thibodeau uses a tight rotation.

And right now?

He doesn’t have much of a choice. There aren’t that many healthy players available.

The Pacers on the other hand have a deep bench and T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Jackson have all played well off the bench.

Alec Burks has been called into action the last two games and has responded well. The Knicks need him to keep playing at a high level. Same goes for Miles McBride.

Yes, the Knicks are shorthanded. But the deeper they go in the playoffs, the more they’re going to need help from their non-starters.

Josh Hart is an ironman and played nearly every minute of the playoffs heading into Game 4. Brunson, at this point, in all likelihood cannot play as much as he had been because of the foot injury.

Knicks vs. Pacers Game 5 Prediction

The home crowd is going to be key for the Knicks in Game 5. The energy and atmosphere inside The Garden has been fantastic throughout the playoffs.

They’ll ride that to a win in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers keys, predictions for Game 5 Tuesday