Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam combined for 62 points tonight in a convincing 130-121 win in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers pieced together a 13-0 run spanning the halves to ascend into the driver’s seat of both this game and the series by not letting New York get closer than five the rest of the way. Indiana rode a decided advantage in fast-break conversions, along with closing out the first through third quarters better than New York to earn the gutty win.
Tyrese Haliburton (30 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds) had a game’s worth of production in the first half alone on his way to an impressive triple-double, and along with Pascal Siakam (30 points and 5 rebounds), received plentiful support from Indiana’s OKC-like rotation. Benedict Mathurin made his first real contribution of this series with 20 points in just 12 minutes.
The stars shined brightest again for New York - with Jalen Brunson (31 points and 5 assists) and Karl-Anthony Towns (24 points and 12 rebounds) helped the Knicks keep pace for about 2.5 quarters. OG Anunoby (22 points and 4 assists) was an excellent third wheel tonight - at least in the first half.
As part of an amazing opening act, Brunson and Haliburton hit four consecutive audacious field goals consecutively as part of an 42-point detonation by the teams halfway through. Despite Brunson’s 13 point effort, Haliburton’s 15 was more impactful as he got more of his teammates involved. Haliburton’s feed to Siakam in the corner put Indiana up 37-30. After a frenzied twelve minutes, New York found itself down eight.
The teams continued their blistering pace, with Towns taking the marquee offensively for New York. Indiana stayed slightly ahead, which allowed Haliburton and Nesmith to get some much-needed rest. Anunoby sandwiched a corner three and a acrobatic layup around a steal to help tie the game at 51. After the Knicks briefly went up, Haliburton confidently knocked down a three. The Pacers again executed better on both ends to close out the second and went to halftime up 69-64.
The Pacers started the second half on a 7-0 run to strengthen their advantage. Bridges and Towns tried to slice into the deficit, but failed to accumulate multiple defensive stops at a time. Indiana had an answer at every turn when the Knicks looked like they turned the corner. With a chance to make it a four- or three-point game, New York instead committed a turnover, and Benedict Mathurin, who put up a lightning fast 13 points in limited minutes, had a deflating and-one. New York went to the fourth down 12.
**Observations**
* As a sign of how turbocharged the scoring was tonight, the teams combined to make their first 15+ free throws.
* Thibodeau looks like he’s decompensating by the minute this series.
* With the “_Yes ‘Cers_” shirts being prominently featured, I wonder what cool Spurs-related shirt will be showcased next post-season.
* A nice way for TNT to go into an early commercial break by playing [Guy’s ‘I Like.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaVzZ0-Csh8)’
* Landry Shamet seems to have a steadier hand than Cam Payne.
* I swore I heard a fan screaming “_Meow, meow, meow_” during Knicks free throws. What a cat-astrophe.
* Mikal Bridges looks like alters his shot form depending on where he is on the floor.
* **Sequence of the Game #1**: Late in the first quarter, Haliburton, pushed the pace and tossed it crosscourt to a streaking Aaron Nesmith - who threw down a one-handed tomahawk slam.
**Game Rundown**
Anunoby connected from the corner to start things off for New York, while Turner muscled home an and-1 over two Knicks to kickstart Indiana. The heaps of points commenced from here. The hobbled Nesmith hit his first two threes, as well. Brunson and Siakam scored within six seconds of each other. Haliburton’s stepback three put the Pacers up seven. Towns picked up his second foul in four minutes, which brought in the smaller Josh Hart. Hart immediately fed Anunoby a zip pass for a transition dunk. After the Knicks pulled even briefly, Haliburton hit an even longer three. It was 21-21... at the 6:00 mark! Hart’s three brought the Knicks within two. Nesmith forced Brunson into a backcourt violation, and the Pacers’ closing flourish gave them a 43-35 cushion after one.
After Towns fumbled away a possession early in the second quarter, he hit a lengthy three the next time down. Anunoby then put up a quick flurry. New York still was not able to get closer than two possessions. Shamet, after his entry, was knocked to the ground and hurt his backside. With Brunson and Haliburton resting, Anunoby and Towns carried the mantle for New York, while the Pacers still were able to maintain a grasp of the lead. Towns managed to avoid a third foul on an awkward drive and drew Obi Toppin’s second foul, too. Just like with the first quarter, and after the teams exchanged beautiful score after beautiful score, Indiana closed the half with a 6-0 burst.
Indiana attempted to run away with the game after a 7-0 run to start the third. Mitchell Robinson entered for New York and ran down several caroms and threw down a dunk for measure. Towns, on one particular and-1, look like he was being horse-collared by Nesmith. The teams remained separated between 6-10 points over many minutes, until Brunson thrice brought the Knicks within five. Haliburton converted a difficult lay-up and then stripped Brunson moments later. TJ McConnell’s jumper put Indiana up nine. An opportunistic Pacers squad had a five-point turnaround sequence when they stole a Knicks pass, and got an and-1 from Mathurin. Haliburton’s pull-up three erased all of New York’s gains for the period, and the Pacers went to the fourth up 102-91.