"Knicks' father right there" - Pacers fans go crazy as Tyrese Haliburton's historic triple-double takes Indy one win closer to NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to a 130-121 win over the New York Knicks in Game 4 on Tuesday. The star guard finished with 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds to bring the Pacers to the cusp of the NBA Finals. The Pacers can advance to the championship round with a win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

Haliburton became the first player in NBA playoff history to tally at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds with no turnovers.

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Fans heaped praise on Haliburton's historic performance.

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"Knicks' father right there," one fan commented.

Haliburton dueled with Knicks star Jalen Brunson to open the showdown. The Indy point guard delivered 15 points and six assists to guide his team to a 43-35 first-quarter lead. New York won the second quarter, but Haliburton kept the Pacers in front 69-64 at halftime.

Unlike in Game 3, the Indiana Pacers did not wilt in the second half. Haliburton, with help from Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith, kept the visitors at bay. When he was not scoring, Haliburton did damage by running the plays to push Indiana’s advantage to 102-91 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle gave Haliburton a rest in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, but Siakam ensured Indiana clung to a 111-99 lead with 7:57 remaining in the game. Haliburton sustained his scoring and playmaking excellence once he returned.

Tyrese Haliburton pushes Pacers to the brink of first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years

The Indiana Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference finals five times since 2000. They were denied by the Detroit Pistons in 2004, the Miami Heat in 2013 and 2014 and the Boston Celtics last year. They are now one win shy of reaching the championship round.

The last time the Pacers made it to the NBA Finals, they lost in six games to the LA Lakers, who were powered by the legendary duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Haliburton will hope to lead the team to one more win and secure a Finals clash against the OKC Thunder or the Minnesota Timberwolves.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero