Haliburton's historic triple-double propels Pacers to brink of NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers delivered a dominant performance in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night, securing a crucial 130-121 victory over the New York Knicks. Spearheaded by a historic triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead, positioning themselves on the precipice of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.

Tyrese Haliburton was the undisputed maestro of the night, recording a spectacular 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. This monumental effort marked his second playoff triple-double, making him the first player in Pacers franchise history to achieve such a feat. Haliburton, who was recently voted the NBA’s "most overrated player" in an anonymous poll, silenced critics with what was arguably the best game of his career. He started hot, draining his first three 3-point attempts and pouring in 15 points in the opening quarter, tying his playoff career-high for any single quarter. Crucially, he finished the game with zero turnovers, a confounding fact for the Knicks who struggled to force him into mistakes.

The Pacers' collective effort stifled New York in key areas. They dominated fast-break scoring with 22 points to the Knicks' nine and showcased superior ball movement with 29 team assists compared to New York’s 17. While the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson's 31 points, attempted a fourth-quarter rally from an initial 11-point deficit, Indiana's defense effectively neutralized Brunson in crunch time, preventing him from penetrating the paint.

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Beyond Haliburton's heroics, the Pacers received significant contributions. Pascal Siakam added 30 points, while Bennedict Mathurin provided a crucial spark off the bench with 20 points in just 12 minutes, a welcome turnaround after scoring only 11 combined points in the series' first three games. Aaron Nesmith, despite a right ankle sprain in Game 3, showed no ill effects, contributing 16 points, including two early 3-pointers and a fast-break dunk that ignited the home crowd.

KAT finished with 24 points

For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 24 points and OG Anunoby had 22. However, Towns' night ended with concern as he went down with a left knee collision late in the fourth quarter, playing through obvious discomfort. His availability for Game 5, where the Knicks will need him to bolster their offense against Indiana's relentless defense, remains a significant worry.

The Pacers' ability to generate transition buckets and maintain stellar offensive flow, combined with their effective defensive adjustments on Brunson, has pushed the Knicks to the brink of elimination. With Haliburton peaking at precisely the right moment, Indiana now heads to New York for Game 5 on Thursday, poised to potentially clinch their spot in the NBA Finals.