The Indiana Pacers escaped with a 130-121 Game 4 win against the New York Knicks to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday. Tyrese Haliburton‘s spectacular triple-double paved the way for the Pacers.
Both squads went to work early on the offensive end as the physical battle kicked off at a very high pace. While the Knicks’ offense is strong, a fast-paced game is exactly what the Pacers specialize in.
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Indiana’s speed advantage was clear as they built an eight point lead in the opening quarter. As the second quarter unfolded in a packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the game became more of a chess match, allowing the Knicks to chip away at the deficit.
New York took a one-point lead a few times before the Pacers swiftly responded and reclaimed a five-point lead by halftime.
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As the second half began, the Pacers held on to their lead thanks to their high-speed offense. The Knicks scored decently in the third, but couldn’t get enough stops on defense to take the lead.
Indiana opened the final frame with a strong scoring run to extend their lead to double digits and the Knicks seemed to be in trouble.
The fourth quarter was riddled with fouls and an overall physicality that put the Pacers in the bonus with over seven minutes left to play. Despite the foul trouble, the Knicks put together a scoring run to make it a close game.
As the final minutes ticked by, the Pacers defensive tenacity and free throw shooting helped them secure the victory.
Haliburton made history on Tuesday with 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds without a single turnover. He is now the first player in NBA history to have 30/15/10 and zero turnovers in a single playoff game.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson had 31 and five assists while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds.
The series will now return to New York on Thursday with the Pacers just one win away from reaching the NBA Finals.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
