Indiana Pacers Pip New York Knicks, One Win Away From Reaching NBA Finals

Last Updated:May 28, 2025, 10:26 IST

Tyrese Haliburton delivered his second career playoff triple double to steer Indiana over New York 130-121, helping the Pacers one win from the NBA Finals.

NBA: Indiana Pacers beat New York Knicks (AP)

Tyrese Haliburton recorded his second career playoff triple-double, leading Indiana to a 130-121 victory over New York on Tuesday, moving the Pacers one win away from the NBA Finals.

Haliburton scored 32 points, provided 15 assists, and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds without committing any turnovers in 38 minutes, becoming the first player in NBA playoff history to achieve a 30-15-10 stat line with no turnovers.

Indiana, who had squandered a 20-point lead in a game-three home loss, now leads 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

“I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond," Haliburton said. “I felt like I let the team down in game three, so it was important to come out here and just make plays. Guys put me in a position to make plays and play my game, and man, it’s a big win for us."

Game five is scheduled for Thursday at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I’m excited about it. It’s going to be a lot of fun," Haliburton said. “It’s a tough environment to play in. We’ve got to be ready. Just one more game, take what we can from this, and be ready for game five."

The Eastern Conference winner will face either Oklahoma City or Minnesota in the NBA Finals starting June 5.

Haliburton’s father attended the game after a month-long ban due to an on-court incident with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the playoffs.

“Hell yeah. I’m glad Pop is in the building," Haliburton said. “It makes it that much sweeter. He had a little bit to do with it."

Haliburton also had four steals, made 11-of-23 shots from the field, and 5-of-12 from three-point range.

“We tried giving him different looks," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’ll look at the film. We just have to do better."

Pascal Siakam added 30 points for the Pacers, while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points off the bench for Indiana.

“We just wanted to come out with more energy, more urgency," Siakam said. “I thought we did that from the beginning. They made runs, but we stuck to our game plan."

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle praised Mathurin. “He was great. He gave us a huge lift," he said.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds, O.G. Anunoby contributed 22 points, and Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points. New York committed 17 turnovers.

“Our defence wasn’t good enough. Our defence and turnovers probably hurt us," Thibodeau said. “The important thing is to reset. We’re not playing the series. We’re playing the game."

Towns suffered a left knee injury while defending a drive by Myles Turner with 2:10 remaining but stayed in the game.

“He was able to go back in. That was a good sign," Thibodeau said. “We’ll see how he is after he’s evaluated."

“I’m only thinking about the loss. I’m not thinking about that right now," Towns said when asked about his knee.

The Pacers last made the NBA Finals in 2000 and have never won the NBA title. The Knicks, on the brink of elimination, have not reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and last won the championship in 1973.

“You’ve got to give it your all," Brunson said. “It’s that simple."

Indiana led 43-35 after the first quarter, with Haliburton recording 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds to start his no-turnover night.

“To not have any turnovers is pretty remarkable," Carlisle said. “I know he takes great pride in it. That’s a motivating factor."

The Pacers led 69-64 at halftime and extended the lead to 102-91 heading into the fourth quarter.

New York went on a 10-2 run to pull within 115-109 but could not catch Indiana, and Obi Toppin’s three-pointer with 46 seconds remaining, establishing a 126-116 Indiana lead, sealed New York’s fate.

(With inputs from AFP)

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News sports Indiana Pacers Pip New York Knicks, One Win Away From Reaching NBA Finals