Pacers on the Brink After Game 4 Triumph Over Knicks
The Indiana Pacers climbed to a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, outgunning the New York Knicks 130-121 in a high-stakes Game 4. That win didn't just pad their record—it put them in prime position to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. The Pacers have now pulled this off twice in these playoffs: taking a 3-1 edge with a Game 4 win, and neither was by accident.
Tyrese Haliburton stole the show again for Indiana. He threw down a 30-point triple-double—piling on rebounds and assists as if he had all night—and gave the Knicks headaches all evening. The Pacers' starting five came out firing: Haliburton set the pace with Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner stretching the floor, while Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard kept up both energy and the pressure.
Across the court, the Knicks tried to stay scrappy. Their Game 3 comeback—built on Karl-Anthony Towns erupting for 20 points in the fourth quarter—hinted they could handle big deficits. This time, the spark wasn’t enough. Jalen Brunson handled the point, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby played their roles on the wing, while Towns and Mitchell Robinson battled in the paint. Still, they couldn’t make a real dent against Indiana's constant offense.
What makes Indiana dangerous is their depth. Besides Haliburton's explosive night, Siakam exploited mismatches and Myles Turner protected the rim even while knocking down open threes. Whenever the Knicks closed the gap—cutting a 15-point deficit to only five—Haliburton responded, either slashing for a layup or finding an open teammate in the corner.
Knicks Searching for Answers as Elimination Looms
The Knicks have made a habit these playoffs of pulling off wild fourth-quarter comebacks. In fact, they'd already erased double-digit deficits in the final quarter three times before this series even started. Towns’ hot hand in Game 3 proved these guys don’t back down, but the stress showed in Game 4 as turnovers and defensive breakdowns kept Indiana ahead nearly all game.
Brunson fought to keep the offense afloat, but Indiana’s scrambling defense gave him little breathing room. Anunoby and Bridges contributed, but the Knicks needed more firepower. Robinson picked up early fouls and struggled to slow down the Pacers’ pace. For New York to push this series further, they'll need not just another heroic quarter from Towns, but a full-on team effort—and a way to keep Haliburton from controlling everything.
The next game is do-or-die for the Knicks. They’ll head home with the crowd on their side, but trailing 3-1, every possession is now under a microscope. Indiana, meanwhile, just needs one more win to clinch the series—and with Tyrese Haliburton playing at this level, the Pacers are in the driver’s seat. The pressure is on, and both teams know it.