In a stunning display of skill and composure, Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to a critical victory over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. On Thursday night, Haliburton put together a historic performance in playoff history. He became the first player in NBA history to register 30-plus points, 15 or more assists and 10-plus rebounds without a TO since turnover tracking began in the 1977-78 campaign. His excellent showing was a huge part of Indiana’s shocking 3-1 series lead.
Haliburton’s scoring ability came out of the gates as he scored 43 points in the first half. In addition to his scoring, the Pacers’ star racked up 15 assists and 10 rebounds, all while never turning the ball over during the contest. His performance was aided by Pascal Siakam, who in tandem with Haliburton exploded for 62 points total. Partners in crime, both players shot 50% from the field, a taste of their scoring versatility and chemistry together on the court.
The Knicks’ woes on defense against Haliburton started from the jump. The Knicks’ inability to contain him allowed Indiana to capitalize on New York’s mistakes, racking up 20 points off 17 turnovers committed by the Knicks. Josh Hart finished with an especially egregious total in that department, turning it over five times—a tally that directly sabotaged New York’s adventurous defensive pressure.
Down the stretch, Haliburton answered Siakam’s fiery finish with some fire of his own, helping put the game away for Indiana. By the end of the match, their combined efforts were more than New York could bear, and New York admitted they needed to step up their game defensively.
Hart talked about the difficulty that New York has when defending a player of Haliburton’s level. It’s impossible for any one team to guard him, as he put it. You can stop one airplane, but then there’s another airplane right behind it.
New York was able to comeback multiple times during the match. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns recognized that they must enhance their defensive efforts against Haliburton to have a chance in the series. Towns remarked on the team’s recurring issues: “In true fashion to our whole playoff run, we put ourselves in a deficit, got ourselves out of the deficit, and then usually we feel good about us going into a close game in the fourth quarter and showing our resilience. You pay the price if you allow yourself to be put in that position too often.”
Haliburton’s historic performance not only showcased his individual talent but highlighted his significance to Indiana’s success. The Pacers have a long-term goal of reaching the NBA Finals that they are very committed to. Throughout, they will be counting on their young star Haliburton to rise to the occasion.
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