THE Indiana Pacers secured a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night (Wednesday, May 28, 2025, PH time), defeating the New York Knicks 130-121 in a pivotal Game 4.
The victory brings the Pacers within one win of their second trip to the NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton delivered a sensational postseason performance, orchestrating the win with 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds, all without committing a single turnover.
With his father John in attendance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Haliburton propelled the Pacers to within one victory of their second trip to the NBA Finals. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday (Friday in PH) in New York.
Pascal Siakam provided significant offensive support with 30 points, complementing Haliburton’s second career postseason triple-double, which also included four steals. Obi Toppin’s crucial three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining effectively sealed the Pacers’ triumph.
The Pacers’ consistency has been remarkable, as they have not suffered consecutive losses since March 10.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson led the scoring with 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, and OG Anunoby finished with 22 points.
However, New York was unable to overcome yet another double-digit deficit, marking the first time in this series that the home team emerged victorious.
The atmosphere in Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric, with nearly a dozen former Pacers players, including Jermaine O’Neal and Lance Stephenson, joining Haliburton’s father among the heavily gold-clad crowd.
The star-studded audience also included WWE Hall of Famer Triple H, rappers Rob 49 and 50 Cent, and singers John Mellencamp and Jelly Roll. The Knicks also had their own dedicated fan section, featuring film director Spike Lee and actors Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller.
What unfolded was one of the most entertaining contests of the NBA’s 2025 postseason. Both teams displayed remarkable shooting efficiency, maintaining a clip of 70 percent well into the first quarter, as the Pacers surged to an early 43-35 lead.
New York mounted a strong comeback in the second quarter, reclaiming the lead three times, with their final lead of the half at 64-63.
However, Haliburton spearheaded a crucial 6-0 run for Indiana to close the half, giving them a 69-64 advantage. He finished the half just two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
The Pacers emerged from halftime with an even more aggressive style, initiating the third quarter with a quick 9-2 run and concluding it with a 9-4 spurt, extending their lead to 102-91. Siakam then scored the final five points of a 9-3 run early in the fourth quarter, pushing Indiana’s lead to 110-96.
New York managed to cut the deficit to six points on three occasions in the closing minutes, but their efforts were hampered when Towns limped to the bench after hurting his left knee with 2:11 to play, though he ultimately finished the game. / From the wires