With his father back in the arena and a city behind him, Tyrese Haliburton delivered a playoff masterclass to power the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks 130-121, moving within a game of the NBA Finals.
This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. Haliburton’s 32-point triple-double, with 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and zero turnovers, was the first of its kind in NBA playoff history. “I’m glad Pops is in the building, it makes it that much more sweet,” he said after the game.
Pascal Siakam poured in 30 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 20 off the bench as Indiana held off multiple New York surges. Obi Toppin’s three with 46 seconds left sealed the deal, but it was Haliburton’s night.
The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson’s 29 and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 24, refused to fold despite trailing by double digits for much of the second half. Towns exited gingerly after a late collision, capping a night where the Pacers always seemed one step ahead.
Haliburton’s father, John, watched from a suite after serving a team-imposed ban for confronting Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the postseason. His presence added a layer of emotion to an already electric Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “A father should be able to watch his son play basketball,” coach Rick Carlisle said before tipoff.
The game was drenched in celebrity and spectacle with the likes of Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet repped the Knicks courtside, only to be cheekily roasted by Pat McAfee over the PA. The crowd roared. The Pacers soared.
Myles Turner, who chipped in 13 points and three blocks, summed it up best: “I love a father-son relationship, I’m glad that a father can see his son grow.” On Tuesday night, that growth looked like greatness.
Game 5 heads to Madison Square Garden, where Indiana will try to finish what Haliburton so brilliantly started.
