You can’t be overrated if you tally up 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds with zero turnovers in a pivotal playoff game.
The Pacers defeated the Knicks 130-121 in Game 4 on May 26, ballooning the series lead to 3-1.
Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to score 30+ points, 15+ assists, and 10+ rebounds without recording a turnover in a game. He also became the third player in NBA history to finish a game with a 30-point triple-double (Oscar Robertson and Nikola Jokic).
Naturally, many wanted to know what led to the historic performance.
“I was just trying to be aggressive and play my best,” Haliburton said. “I feel like I let the team down in Game 3, I felt like I could have been so much better, so I feel like I responded the right way [in Game 4.]”
Pascal Siakam matched Haliburton’s aggressiveness with 30 points of his own.
Aaron Nesmith, who was questionable coming into the contest, finished with 16 points and three rebounds.
Bennedict Mathurin also provided a spark off the bench with 20 points, including getting to the free-throw line eleven times.
With their backs against the wall, the Knicks must attempt to write their own history as teams are 1-17 when overcoming a 3-1 series deficit.
“Nothing else matters at this point,” Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson said. “You have to give it your all [in Game 5].
Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a left knee injury in the third quarter, was asked about his availability for Game 5.
“I am only thinking about [tonight’s] loss right now,” Towns said. “We didn’t do enough to get the win. We all have to be better.”
Brunson secured 31 points and five assists, while Towns notched 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby also added 22 points.
Towns’ status for Game 5 is currently listed as “questionable.”
The Pacers head to New York with a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 tips off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on May 29 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on TikTok @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more NBA news from the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
