The New York Knicks now are facing even longer odds.
The Indiana Pacers sprinted past New York on Tuesday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, 130-121, to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. In NBA playoff history, only 13 teams have overcome such a deficit to advance.
As he has all series long, Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points. But he was outdueled by Indiana’s All-Star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, who recorded a historic, 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double.
Here are the winners and losers from Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks:
WINNERS
Tyrese Haliburton drops historic triple-double
Knowing he needed to be aggressive in a crucial Game 4, the Pacers All-Star point guard came out looking to set a tone from the tip. The end result was unprecedented; Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to record a 30-point, 15-assist triple-double without committing a single turnover. His 12 rebounds were a career best in any game. He played with efficiency (11-of-23 shooting) and control and he was the player who sparked Indiana’s tempo. As soon as he collected a board or received a pass in the backcourt, he dashed up the floor to look for his teammates.
Not to be overlooked, Haliburton also recorded four steals. He was everywhere. And, he did it all in front of his father, John Haliburton, who was allowed to attend the game after the Pacers temporarily banned him after his on-court postgame run-in with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the NBA playoffs..
Benedict Mathurin shows up
Despite Indiana’s success in the Eastern Conference finals, one of the key Pacers reserves, electric guard Benedict Mathurin, had struggled all series. Mathurin had scored just 11 points in the previous three games combined, putting up only eight shot attempts.
Tuesday night, Mathurin was a factor as soon as he stepped on the floor. He converted two quick baskets, swishing a pullup jumper just seconds after checking in and then scooping in a finger roll after cutting to the rim. In just 12:30 of game time, Mathurin dropped 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting. The true sign of his aggressive mindset was his attacking mentality that earned him 11 free throw attempts, 10 of which he converted.
LOSERS
The Knicks simply cannot stop giving it away
If there’s one thing alone that cost New York this game it’s that it constantly gave the ball away. New York committed 17 turnovers, compared to just 11 from the Pacers, which led to 20 Indiana points. It’s no coincidence, then, that the Pacers, one of the quickest teams in the NBA, sprinted to a 22-9 advantage in fastbreak points; these things are all linked.
“You turn it over against them, particularly the live ball turnovers, and you’re fueling (their) transition game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game.
Knicks get more bad injury news
The prospect of the Knicks pulling out Game 5 became significantly more complicated late in the fourth quarter. Center Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 20 points in the fourth quarter of New York’s Game 3 comeback, suffered a left knee injury when Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith’s right knee crashed into Towns’ left knee.
Towns crumpled onto the floor in obvious pain, though he remained in the game. Thibodeau said Towns would be evaluated before Game 5 to determine his status for Thursday. In any case, the injury came to the same knee Towns was already favoring. Even if he is able to go in Game 5, he may be hampered. As it was, Towns was laboring up the floor Tuesday after the injury.
New York’s bench folds in second half
The Knicks bench — players like Delon Wright, Landry Shamet and Miles McBride — were catalysts that sparked New York’s comeback in Game 3. As New York trailed the entire second half of Game 4, however, the bench could not replicate its success.
Josh Hart and the other three mentioned above scored just eight points in the second half on 2-of-7 shooting. Hart was easily the most active, but five of his six fouls came in the second half. Wright did make a few defensive plays, but he followed those with poor shot selections.