Tyrese Haliburton made magic on Tuesday night. In the moment during the Indiana Pacers commanding Game 4 victory over the one-seed New York Knicks in that playoff series, however, it was pure joy. Haliburton was phenomenal, finishing with 32 points and 15 assists to go along with 12 rebounds. He set a new record for most points, rebounds and assists in NBA postseason history without a turnover. His electrifying performance helped the Pacers to a much-needed 120-113 win against the Clippers. Now, they find themselves just one victory away from advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
Haliburton had a strong first half on his way to 20 points. He made a major impact by dishing out ten assists and hauling in eight rebounds. His tremendous effort pumped up the raucous crowd and helped give Indiana a huge territorial advantage. They went into the second half riding a wave of energy.
A Record-Breaking Night
Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 4 performance was an important moment in NBA history. He put up a ridiculous 32/15/12 statline. Surprisingly, he did all that without a single turnover to his name in the league’s postseason play! This milestone underlines both the rarity of Haliburton’s ability and talent, as well as his clutch ability to get it done when it counts most.
The whole game, Haliburton showed why he’s one of the best shooters in the league, hitting on five threes. In the final three minutes of the third quarter, he made a huge three-pointer. This three pointer gave the Pacers their largest lead of the game at 102-91. His contributions, on both ends, were pivotal in keeping the pedal down for Indiana and preventing any possible comeback bid by the Knicks.
“He was really throwing the ball ahead tonight, which was really important to us,” – Pacers coach Rick Carlisle
It was possible because of Haliburton’s strategic playmaking and how easily he was able to shift the offense. He hit the last half dozen points of the first 2nd for Indy. His knack for the big play when it counted the most emerged more than ever.
Responding to Setbacks
Haliburton’s record-setting performance followed a lackluster loss in Game 3. To his credit and acknowledging that it was previously up to him, he indicated a commitment to atone for his previous team.
“I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to respond,” – Tyrese Haliburton
He didn’t just treat Game 4 as any old regular season game. His focus was razor sharp. Having felt as though he had failed his teammates in their first meeting, he was motivated to inspire them. That feeling of responsibility inspired him to one of his finest performances on the season.
Rick Carlisle said it is in Haliburton’s nature to step up in these moments, and that is now starting to become the surprise rising star’s normal routine. This is what’s fueled his fire, Carlisle noted. It gives him a great sense of pride and that motivates him.
Defensive Struggles for the Knicks
Even after scoring 120 points, the Knicks defense was terrible start to finish. As Coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game, his team had no answer for Haliburton’s firepower and precision.
“We scored 120 points, but our defence wasn’t good enough,” – Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau
Thibodeau’s remarks bring up a bigger issue — the Knicks’ overall approach. Along with those mix-ups, they are continuing to have the defensive lapses that have lost them critical games in the series.
With the win, the Pacers don’t just tie up the best-of-seven series, they take a commanding 3-1 lead. Now, they find themselves just one step away from moving on to the Finals! If they keep up their level of play and commitment, they will etch their legacy into NBA lore forever. They will begin a long-awaited trip back to championship contention.
