In a dominant Game 5 performance by the New York Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo of the Knicks had some harsh words for the Indiana Pacers. Following a physical third-quarter altercation with Pacers' Myles Turner, DiVincenzo dismissed Indiana's attempt to portray themselves as tough guys.

"They were trying to be tough guys. And that's not their identity, and there's nothing more to that," DiVincenzo stated. "Nobody is going to fight in the NBA. So take the foul, keep it moving. You're not a tough guy. Just keep it moving."

The Knicks' superiority on the boards was evident throughout the game, outrebounding the Pacers 53-29. They also dominated on the offensive glass, outscoring Indiana 20-5 in second-chance points. Their physicality disrupted the Pacers' offensive rhythm, leaving Indiana unable to properly box out and essentially manhandling their opponents.

Turner acknowledged the Knicks' strategy, emphasizing the importance of hustle plays, offensive rebounds, 50-50 balls, and limiting turnovers. "It's not about our offense because we know we can score.... We're one of the best scoring offenses in the history of this game, but it's about the little stuff," Turner admitted. "I know I didn't do my job tonight when it came to being on the glass, and I need to personalize that and take it into the next game."

The contentious play that led to the DiVincenzo-Turner altercation occurred when DiVincenzo executed a powerful putback dunk and hung on the rim. As he tried to navigate through a Turner screen, he was charged with a foul. Turner believed that DiVincenzo had elbowed him in the gut, resulting in a heated exchange that required intervention from referee Scott Foster and Knicks' Obi Toppin.

The incident resulted in a total of five technical fouls, with three issued to the Knicks. DiVincenzo pointed out that the Pacers were attempting to imitate the Knicks' style of play, which had proven successful for Indiana in the previous game. However, the Knicks regrouped, analyzed game footage, and focused on reclaiming their true identity.

"We came out tonight, and that's exactly who we are. That's who we are. We've been that all season long," emphasized DiVincenzo. "It's our identity, it's what we do in practice every day. They were successful last game, and we understood we have to go back to who we are, and that's exactly what we did."

The Knicks' resounding victory in Game 5 has undoubtedly put the Pacers on notice, exposing the flaws in their tough guy facade. As the series progresses, it remains to be seen if the Pacers can regroup and establish themselves on their own terms or if the Knicks will continue to assert their dominance.

The next game between the Knicks and the Pacers promises to be a highly anticipated showdown, with fans eager to witness the clash of contrasting styles and the implications it will have on the outcome of the series.