Pacers Overwhelm Knicks with Red-Hot Start
The talk of Game 4 wasn’t just about the Pacers winning—it was about how they did it. Indiana lit up the scoreboard with a monster first quarter, pouring in 43 points on a jaw-dropping 68% shooting. Madison Square Garden’s buzz suddenly belonged to Indiana as they raced off and didn’t look back. Every starter found their groove, but Haliburton set the tone, juggling playmaking and shooting like he had the world on a string. His triple-double (points, rebounds, assists) wasn’t just stat-padding—it kept the Pacers attack humming and left the Knicks scrounging for answers.
This offensive explosion created breathing room for Indiana, and the Knicks struggled to close the gap all night. Even when New York tried to rally, the Pacers’ discipline and shot selection stayed sharp. Aaron Nesmith, who many doubted would play after his ankle injury, strapped on his sneakers and made his presence felt against Jalen Brunson. His defense didn’t make headlines in the box score, but Knicks’ main threat looked out of rhythm, especially when it mattered most.
Big Performances, Big Stakes
Karl-Anthony Towns, fresh from his wild fourth quarter in Game 3, followed up with another strong outing. His presence kept the Pacers in attack mode, denying New York any momentum after Indy’s fast start. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Myles Turner all chipped in both offensively and defensively, forcing the Knicks to constantly shuffle their gameplan. The Pacers looked connected, balancing transition buckets with calm half-court execution.
On the flip side, New York’s starting five—Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Towns, and Mitchell Robinson—didn’t quite have the same pop. Brunson had flashes but couldn’t get cooking with Nesmith making life difficult. Bridges and Anunoby managed to inject some hustle and urgency but never fully swung the momentum. The Knicks did cobble together a late push, but Indiana’s offense never wobbled for long.
- Indiana shot above 60% for most of the night, rarely settling for bad attempts.
- Nesmith’s health-defying defense was a major talking point after the game.
- Transition opportunities kept Indiana ahead every time the Knicks attempted a comeback.
Now up 3-1, the Pacers can smell the NBA Finals. They haven’t been this close since the Reggie Miller era back in 2000. One more win, and Indiana books their ticket to the league’s biggest stage again. For New York, Game 5 is now do-or-die; one more slip, and their run comes crashing down while Indiana keeps the party going.
