Haliburton Makes Playoff History With Flawless Triple-Double
Nobody in the packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse was sitting down as Tyrese Haliburton ripped through the Knicks’ defense again and again. The Pacers guard dominated every inch of Game 4, putting up 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds—without a single turnover. Since the NBA started tracking turnovers in 1977, nobody had ever put together a 30-point, 15-assist, 10-rebound playoff game with a clean sheet. The only other guys to do it in the regular season: Nikola Jokic in 2023 and James Harden in 2021. That’s the neighborhood Haliburton found himself in Monday night.
But it wasn’t just math or milestones for the 24-year-old point man. Each crunch-time possession looked calm in his hands. With under a minute to go and the Knicks clawing within striking distance, Haliburton found Obi Toppin in the corner. Toppin nailed the three-ball, the bench exploded, and New York’s hopes all but vanished. Moments like that sealed Indiana’s 130-121 win—and a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.
The Pacers Find Their Groove as Knicks Struggle to Catch Up
Haliburton’s magic was the headliner, but he had a strong backup act. Pascal Siakam put on a scoring clinic, racking up 30 points and hitting several big shots to keep the Pacers’ offense humming. The rhythm looked nothing like the erratic team we saw earlier in the season; this Indiana squad hasn’t lost consecutive games since early March. They’re finding extra gears right when it matters most.
The Knicks tried to keep pace with Jalen Brunson stacking up 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns, recently back from injury, did what he could with a 24-point, 12-rebound line. But each time New York chipped away, Indiana answered. Every time the Knicks trimmed a double-digit deficit, Siakam attacked the rim, or Haliburton found just the right mismatch. The Pacers managed to keep New York off balance, never caving under pressure when the Knicks made a run.
- Haliburton had a hand in almost every critical play, even defensively—coach Rick Carlisle praised his ability to disrupt passing lanes and start fast breaks.
- Toppin's late three-pointer turned Game 4 from a tense finish into a Pacers celebration, easing the nerves of the home crowd.
- Siakam handled the dirty work in the paint, getting key rebounds and drawing fouls on New York’s bigs when the Pacers needed stops.
After the final whistle, Haliburton doubled down on what drives him. His dad was in the crowd, and it was clear this night mattered. “The job’s not done,” Haliburton said, skipping the personal hype to focus on bringing Indiana its first Finals since the Reggie Miller era. “We’re not chasing stats. We’re chasing something bigger.”
Now the Pacers head east, needing just one more win to punch their Finals ticket. The Knicks have a mountain to climb, facing elimination at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. For Indiana, resilience is their calling card—they haven’t lost two on the bounce in months. And with Haliburton orchestrating the show, the NBA’s brightest spotlight might be just around the corner for this Pacers team.
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