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The Indiana Pacers are just one win away from the NBA Finals. Thanks to a stellar performance from Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana outpaced the New York Knicks 130-121 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
Haliburton Delivers a Postseason Masterclass
Haliburton was unstoppable. He recorded 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds—without a single turnover. It’s a stat line no player has achieved in playoff history since turnovers began being tracked in 1977-78.
Only legends Nikola Jokic and Oscar Robertson have ever tallied 30+ points, 15+ assists, and 10+ rebounds in a postseason game.
Yet for Haliburton, the focus wasn't personal records.
“I'll reflect on that later. Right now, it's about winning,” he said. “I wanted to respond with my back against the wall—and we did.”
Pacers Show Championship Grit
Pascal Siakam added 30 points to the scoreboard. Obi Toppin’s late-game 3-pointer sealed the deal with 46 seconds remaining. It was a true team effort, capped off by Haliburton’s second career postseason triple-double. He also had four steals.
The win marked the first home victory in this series, witnessed by a raucous crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Among them were former Pacers Jermaine O’Neal and Lance Stephenson, WWE star Triple H, rappers 50 Cent and Rob 49, and singers John Mellencamp and Jelly Roll.
Also in attendance was Haliburton’s father, John, who had been banned from previous games after an incident with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. He returned in time to witness his son's epic performance.
Knicks Fall Behind in the Series
New York’s Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, while OG Anunoby had 22. Despite their efforts, the Knicks couldn’t close a consistent double-digit gap.
Game 4 marks the second year in a row the Knicks risk playoff elimination at the hands of the Pacers. They now face a must-win Game 5 at home on Thursday.
“We’ve all got to be better,” said Towns. He played through a late-game leg injury and finished strong, but it wasn’t enough. “It’s tough. We’ve figured it out before. We’ve got to do it again.”
Fast Start Sets the Tone
Both teams shot over 70% in a frantic first quarter. The Pacers jumped ahead 43-35 and held a 69-64 lead at halftime. Haliburton ended the first half just two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Coach Rick Carlisle praised Haliburton’s leadership and the team’s bounce-back mentality after a tough Game 3 loss.
“He led us tonight. The film yesterday was tough to watch. But we responded,” Carlisle said.
Aggression Fuels Second-Half Surge
Indiana’s energy spiked in the second half. A 9-2 run gave them early momentum, and they ended the third quarter up 102-91. Siakam’s final five points during a 9-3 fourth-quarter run pushed the lead to 111-96.
The Knicks made late pushes, cutting the lead to six multiple times. But they never came closer. The Pacers remained composed and in control.
One Win Away from the NBA Finals
Now, the Pacers stand on the brink of history. They’re one game from making only their second NBA Finals appearance.
With Haliburton playing like a seasoned star, Indiana is riding high—and ready to finish the job in New York.
Game 5 tips off Thursday at Madison Square Garden. The pressure is on the Knicks, while the Pacers aim to close it out and punch their ticket to the Finals.
