Tyrese Haliburton Makes NBA History, Lifts Pacers to 3-1 Lead Over Knicks in Conference Finals
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Tyrese Haliburton delivered one of the greatest Playoff performances in NBA history, guiding the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks 130-121 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Haliburton finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, four steals, and zero turnovers. No player had ever hit those marks in a Playoff game since turnovers became a tracked stat in 1977-78.
He was in complete control from the jump, posting 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists in the first quarter alone. Only LeBron James had previously logged 15/5/5 in a single Playoff quarter.
Haliburton’s fingerprints were all over the game. He stopped multiple Knicks runs in the fourth quarter with clutch finishes, including a smooth finger roll and another momentum-killing layup. With under a minute remaining, he assisted Obi Toppin’s dagger three-pointer to seal the win.
The 24-year-old star became the first Pacer ever to post a 30-point triple-double in the Playoffs and the first player in history to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, and steals without a single turnover.
“I was just trying to play my game,” Haliburton said. His game, it turns out, was historic.