Record-breaking game four performance puts Pacers on the cusp
The Indiana Pacers are one win away from making their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years as they defeated the New York Knicks 130-121 in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals in Indianapolis.
The Pacers bounced back from a disappointing six-point loss in game three to become the first team all series to claim victory on their home court.
The Knicks gave them a scare late as the visitors surged from 15 points down to within six points when a timeout was called with three minutes and six seconds left on the clock.
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But Indiana steadied in the dying minutes to ensure that New York did not get any closer.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was dominant with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals and zero turnovers.
The 25-year-old led the game, or was equal best, in all five categories, and his dozen rebounds was a career-best.
He also became just the second player ever to have a 30-point triple-double with no turnovers, and he is the first Pacer to have multiple playoff triple doubles.
Haliburton was just two rebounds shy of a triple-double at half time as he was instrumental in a topsy turvy first half that included ten instances of the scores being level and 13 lead changes.
His's first quarter was so electric that he became just the second player after LeBron James to have 15+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a playoff quarter since play-by-play statistics became the standard in 1998.
The records kept coming as he became only the second player after Russell Westbrook to have 20+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ rebounds in a single half of a playoff game in that 27-year period of play-by-play numbers.
'I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond,' Haliburton said post-game.
'I felt like I let the team down in game three so it was important for me to just come out here and make plays.
'The guys put me in positions to make plays. I was just trying to play my game and man, it's a big win for us.'
TYRESE HALIBURTON WHAT A HALF!!!
ðŸ'¥ 20 PTS
ðŸ'¥ 10 AST
ðŸ'¥ 9 REB
ðŸ'¥ 4 3PM
CAME TO PLAY IN GAME 4! pic.twitter.com/1ulncStB9r
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2025
Haliburton's incredible performances comes as his father, John, was allowed to be in the arena for the first time since his on-court confrontation with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Pacers celebrated Haliburton's series-clinching layup in the final seconds of overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks last month.
When asked if the presence of his father, who was made to stay in a box to watch the game, had inspired him, Haliburton replied, 'hell yeah!'.
'I'm glad pop's was in the building. Makes it that much more sweet,' he said.
'That had a little bit to do with it.'
Tyrese Haliburton's dad, John is back in the building for Game 4 of Pacers-Knicks in Indy 🙌
(ðŸ'¸: @AP_Images) pic.twitter.com/7NH4s9CZVG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 28, 2025
Pascal Siakam also played a star turn for the Pacers with 30 points, while guard Bennedict Mathurin made a significant impact with 20 points in just 12 minutes off the bench.
Indiana put the foot down in the third quarter to stop those momentum swings, however, as they won the term by six to open up an 11-point lead at the final break.
Haliburton had the home crowd at their loudest late in the third quarter when he snuck upon on Jalen Brunson, poked the ball loose and dived on the floor to gain possession as the Knicks tried to mount a charge with a little more than three minutes left in the term.
TYRESE HALIBURTON INCREDIBLE STOP!!
Poke the ball out.
Dive for the loose ball.
Hype up the crowd.
HE WANTS THAT 3-1 LEAD 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/FlZhCnvuym
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2025
The Pacers fans revelled in the march towards victory in the final term, as they soaked up the fact that the Pacers need just one more win to compete in the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history - they were beaten by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.
New York were left to rue a costly turnover count - 17 to 11 - once again as their sloppiness with the ball allowed the Pacers to lead fast break points 22-9 but it was a whopping 19-2 in the first three quarters.
Brunson was excellent with a team-high 31 points, including 11 of 12 free throws, while Karl-Anthony Towns overcame early foul trouble to score 24 points and bring down 12 rebounds but was limping late in the game after a heavy hit.
History is now against the Knicks with only the 1968 and 1981 Boston Celtics having come from 3-1 down to win the Eastern Conference Finals.
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