Sports
Tyrese Haliburton’s Historic Game 4 Pushes Pacers One Win Away from NBA Finals
In a record-shattering performance, Haliburton posts a 30-point triple-double with zero turnovers, lifting Indiana to a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Knicks.
Tyrese Haliburton delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday night, leading the Indiana Pacers to a crucial 130-121 win over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and moving the franchise just one win away from its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.
The two-time All-Star put on an all-around masterclass, finishing with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, and zero turnovers—a statistical line never before recorded in NBA playoff history.
Haliburton’s impact was immediate and relentless. He joined LeBron James as the only player in the play-by-play era to post 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single quarter of a playoff game, setting the tone from the opening tip. By halftime, his historic numbers included 20 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and four three-pointers, unmatched in any playoff half since the stat era began.
“I was just trying to play my game,” Haliburton told reporters post-game. “Make the right plays, be aggressive, and respond after Game 3. I felt like I owed that to the team.”
And respond he did. With the Knicks rallying late in the fourth quarter, Haliburton made clutch plays down the stretch—halting a 13-5 Knicks run with a pair of critical layups and assisting on Obi Toppin’s game-sealing three in the final minute. His decision-making under pressure was flawless, guiding the Pacers offense with surgical precision.
The record books were rewritten in real-time:
- First player in NBA playoff history with 30+ points, 15+ assists, 10+ rebounds, and 0 turnovers
- First Pacer to record a 30-point triple-double in the postseason
- Only player to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, and steals with zero turnovers in a playoff game
Even if his 32 points were removed, Haliburton’s statline would still stand alone, as no other player has ever registered 15+ assists, 12+ rebounds, 4+ steals, and 0 turnovers in any NBA game—playoffs or regular season.
Backing Haliburton’s brilliance were Pascal Siakam with 30 points and Bennedict Mathurin chipping in 20 off the bench. On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson posted 31 points, but 17 team turnovers and defensive lapses allowed Indiana to control the tempo.
“We hurt ourselves,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau admitted. “The turnovers and defensive breakdowns early on cost us.”
With the series returning to Madison Square Garden and the Pacers leading 3-1, the pressure is squarely on New York to avoid elimination in front of a tense home crowd. Meanwhile, Indiana fans are daring to dream—fueled by a point guard who isn’t just playing great basketball; he’s rewriting how it’s played.