In front of a raucous home crowd and with his father watching in person for the first time this postseason, Tyrese Haliburton delivered a performance for the ages. The Indiana Pacers’ All-Star point guard orchestrated a masterclass in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, posting 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and zero turnovers in a 130-121 win over the New York Knicks. The win gives Indiana a commanding 3-1 series lead and puts them one victory away from their second trip to the NBA Finals — and first since 2000.
Haliburton’s performance was not just brilliant, but historic. Since turnovers began being tracked in 1977-78, no player had ever recorded a triple-double of 30+ points, 15+ assists, 10+ rebounds and zero turnovers in a playoff game. The only players to ever reach 30/15/10 in the postseason at all? Nikola Jokic and Oscar Robertson.
“It was a night we’ll never forget,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “Tyrese showed why he’s a franchise cornerstone. He controlled the tempo, made every right read, and lifted us when we needed it most.”
Haliburton wasn’t alone in delivering a big-time performance. Pascal Siakam added 30 points, including a critical 9-3 run early in the fourth quarter to help extend Indiana’s lead to 111-96. Obi Toppin nailed a dagger three-pointer with 46 seconds left to seal the win, as the gold-clad Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted.
Indiana’s offense was relentless from the jump. Both teams shot over 70% early in the first quarter before the Pacers built a 43-35 lead. Haliburton orchestrated a 6-0 run to close the half, giving Indiana a 69-64 advantage. The Pacers opened the third with a 9-2 run and never looked back, stretching the lead to as many as 15 in the final frame.
The Knicks once again found themselves clawing back from a double-digit deficit but came up short. Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds. OG Anunoby, in his best game of the series, chipped in 22.
New York trimmed the margin to six on three separate occasions late in the fourth, but Indiana answered each time with timely buckets. The loss marks the first road win of the series and leaves the Knicks one loss away from back-to-back playoff exits at the hands of the Pacers.
Nearly a dozen Pacers alumni — including Jermaine O’Neal and Lance Stephenson — were in attendance, along with celebrities like Triple H, 50 Cent, Rob49, John Mellencamp, and Jelly Roll. The loudest applause, however, may have been for John Haliburton, Tyrese’s father, who returned to the building after an eight-game ban for confronting Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first-round series against Milwaukee.
Seated in a suite, John watched his son make postseason history. Tyrese also invited Hans Perez, a New York firefighter and Pacers fan, gifting him a signed jersey in a heartwarming gesture before the game.
Game 5 shifts back to Madison Square Garden on Thursday, where the Knicks will try to stave off elimination and force a Game 6. But with Haliburton in peak form and the Pacers clicking offensively, Indiana looks poised to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.
“This isn’t over,” Haliburton said postgame. “We’ve got to finish the job — and we know it won’t be easy in New York.”
But after a night like this, it’s hard not to feel like history is leaning Indiana’s way.
