Knicks falter in Game 4 as Indiana inch closer to NBA finals

Indianapolis, Indiana - Tyrese Haliburton delivered his second career playoff triple double to power Indiana over New York 130-121 on Tuesday, lifting the Pacers one win from the NBA Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton (l.) produced a triple double to put the Indiana Pacers on the brink of the NBA Finals after their win over the New York Knicks.
Tyrese Haliburton (l.) produced a triple double to put the Indiana Pacers on the brink of the NBA Finals after their win over the New York Knicks.  © IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Haliburton scored 32 points, passed off 15 assists and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds while making no turnovers over 38 minutes becoming the first player in NBA playoff history with 30-15-10 and no turnovers.

Indiana, who blew a 20-point lead in a Game 3 home loss, seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the home triumph.

"I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond," Haliburton said.

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"I felt like I let the team down in game three so it was important to come out here and just make plays."

"Guys put me in position to make plays and play my game and man, it's a big win for us."

Pascal Siakam added 30 points for the Pacers while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points off the bench.

Game 5 is set for Thursday in New York's Madison Square Garden.

"I'm excited about it. It's going to be a lot of fun," Haliburton said. "It's a tough environment to play in. We've got to be ready. Just one more game, take what we can from this and be ready for game five."

Thibodeau admits defense "wasn't good enough"

Jalen Brunson's 31 points weren't enough to salvage the game for the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson's 31 points weren't enough to salvage the game for the Knicks.  © IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Pacers led 69-64 at half-time and stretched the lead to 102-91 entering the fourth quarter.

New York went on a 10-2 run to pull within 115-109, but could not catch Indiana and Obi Toppin's three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining to establish a 126-116 lead that sealed the win.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds, O.G. Anunoby had 22 points, and Mikael Bridges netted 17 points. New York gave up 17 turnovers.

New York Knicks stumble again as Indiana Pacers take dominant series lead
NBA New York Knicks stumble again as Indiana Pacers take dominant series lead

"Our defense wasn't good enough. Our defense and turnovers probably hurt us," Thibodeau said. "The important thing is to reset. We're not playing the series. We're playing the game."

Towns suffered a left knee injury defending a drive by Myles Turner with 2:10 remaining but stayed in the game.

"He was able to go back in. That was a good sign," Thibodeau said. "We'll see how he is after he's evaluated."

"I'm only thinking about the loss. I'm not thinking about that right now," Towns said when asked about his knee.

The Pacers last made the NBA Finals in 2000 and have never won the title. The Knicks, on the brink of elimination, have not reached the Finals since 1999 and their last crown was in 1973.

Cover photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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