This likely wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, but it was key to the Knicks staving off elimination.
When Landry Shamet forced T.J. McConnell out of bounds for a turnover in the fourth quarter, the Garden crowd loudly chanted his name.
It mirrored fans’ sentiments earlier in the game, when Shamet received loud applause upon going to the bench in the second quarter.
After barely playing in the postseason, Shamet has been elevated in the rotation the last three games of this series.
And he continued to reward coach Tom Thibodeau’s trust Thursday night during the Knicks’ 111-94 Game 5 home win over the Pacers.
“I love New York. I love these fans,” Shamet said. “I see how they ride the wave with us, the highs, the lows. So it’s important to me. I just wanna give everything I’ve got to them. So I appreciate them, but we’ve got more to do.”
Shamet played 14 minutes and recorded five points, a rebound and a steal.
He offered relentless defensive effort, pressuring Pacers ball handlers.
He was crisp in his rotations, helping avoid the kinds of breakdowns that plagued the Knicks defense in previous games.
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He provided a shooting threat.
He was part of a trio of previously little-used Knicks reserves who played a critical role Thursday night.
Delon Wright, like Shamet, has found a newfound role the last three games as well after hardly playing in the postseason previously.
He did not score but joined Shamet in providing stifling defense.
Precious Achiuwa saw the court when Karl-Anthony Towns fell into foul trouble and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle opted to foul Mitchell Robinson and send him to the line in the third quarter.
Thibodeau decided to take Robinson out as a result, and did not want to risk putting Towns back in with four fouls.
Achiuwa held his own in six minutes of action.
“Precious has done a really good job,” Thibodeau said. “Even though he hasn’t played, he’s put a lot of extra work in, before practice and then after practice. He’s kept himself ready and it hasn’t gone unnoticed, so that was huge for us.”
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns set the pace early.
But an unlikely trio helped get the Knicks over the line.
Their importance can’t be overlooked.