Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton dazzles with Game 4 triple-double in dad’s return to arena

   

INDIANAPOLIS - The air in Gain Bridge Fieldhouse crackled with an unusual intensity on Tuesday night. It wasn't just the high stakes of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks; it was a confluence of personal narratives and unexpected theatrics that painted a vivid tapestry around a truly extraordinary basketball performance. At the heart of it all stood Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' young maestro, orchestrating a symphony of skill that not only secured a crucial 130-121 victory but also etched his name into the annals of NBA postseason history.

This particular game carried an extra layer of significance for Haliburton. After a temporary ban imposed by the Pacers' front office, his father, John Haliburton, was back in the building. The ban stemmed from an incident during Game 5 of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, where the elder Haliburton appeared to taunt Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Pacers closed out the series. While John Haliburton had since apologized, the team management had restricted his attendance at both home and away games. Tuesday night marked his return, a moment that seemingly ignited an unparalleled fire within his son.

What followed was nothing short of breathtaking. Tyrese Haliburton delivered what many are calling not just his best game of the 2025 playoffs, but potentially one of the finest performances of his burgeoning career, and indeed, a statistical anomaly in the rich history of the NBA postseason. He poured in 32 points, showcasing his scoring prowess with drives to the basket, silky pull-up jumpers, and a confident touch from beyond the arc, sinking five of his twelve 3-point attempts. But his impact stretched far beyond scoring. He was a facilitator of the highest order, dishing out a remarkable 15 assists, threading needles through the Knicks' defense to find open teammates for crucial baskets.

Yet, the most astonishing aspect of Haliburton's performance was his flawless ball security. In a high-pressure playoff game where every possession is magnified, he committed zero turnovers. This combination of high scoring output, prolific playmaking, and impeccable ball control is a statistical rarity in any context, let alone the intense environment of the Eastern Conference Finals. As Haliburton himself quipped after the game, it almost felt like "we're making up stats."

Indeed, the numbers speak for themselves. Haliburton's 32 points were his highest tally of the Pacers' captivating playoff run, only second to the 35 points he scored against the Knicks in the previous season. He joined an elite club of NBA players – Oscar Robertson and Nikola Jokić being the others – to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a playoff game. However, his five 3-pointers and zero turnovers set him apart, creating a unique statistical footprint in postseason lore. Even by halftime, Haliburton had already amassed an impressive 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists, all without a single turnover, as the Pacers held a 69-64 lead.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, while acknowledging the historical significance of Haliburton's performance, maintained a team-first perspective. "I know Ty did some historic stat stuff tonight," Carlisle said. "That's great, but... It's tough talking about stats when it's such a team thing right now. So, happy for him. It'll get celebrated on all the networks, stuff like that. But in our world right now, it's day seven of 13, and tomorrow's day eight. And we gotta just keep our eye on the ball and keep focusing on each day."

While Haliburton's brilliance illuminated the court, the Pacers' victory was a collective effort. Pascal Siakam continued his stellar playoff campaign, adding a crucial 30 points, including 11 in the pivotal fourth quarter. Bennedict Mathurin provided a spark off the bench with 20 points, and even Aaron Nesmith, playing through a sprained ankle, chipped in with a valuable 16 points.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson led the scoring with 29 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 24 before hobbling off the court late in the final quarter after a hard fall. Despite trailing by 13 points with just over five minutes remaining, the Knicks attempted to mount another furious fourth-quarter comeback, a hallmark of this fiercely contested series. They managed to close the gap to six points, but Obi Toppin's timely 3-pointer with 46.3 seconds left extended the Pacers' lead to ten, effectively quashing the Knicks' rally.

Adding an unexpected layer of entertainment to the evening was a bizarre mid-game spectacle. During the second half, the Pacers' entertainment staff handed the microphone to former Indianapolis Colts punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee. McAfee proceeded to introduce a trio of prominent Knicks fans in attendance: filmmaker Spike Lee, actor Ben Stiller, and rising star Timothée Chalamet. The Indianapolis crowd responded with a chorus of boos for the New York-Hollywood contingent. McAfee then added fuel to the fire, telling the booing fans, "Let's send those [expletives] back to New York with their ears bleeding." This unexpected and somewhat crude interlude added a surreal element to an already captivating night.

Amidst the on-court heroics and the celebrity sideshow, the return of John Haliburton carried a quiet emotional weight. Coach Carlisle expressed his pleasure at having him back. "I'm glad he's back," Carlisle said before the game. "A father should be able to watch his son play basketball. We welcome him back." Haliburton himself, while initially suggesting his father's presence played a role in his performance, later downplayed the emotional aspect, perhaps wanting the focus to remain on the team's victory. "Hell yeah (having John in the building had something to do with it)," Haliburton told TNT, before adding a more reserved perspective.

With this crucial Game 4 victory, the Pacers now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. They stand just one win away from reaching their second NBA Finals in franchise history. Their next opportunity comes on Thursday night at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. The momentum clearly lies with the Pacers, fueled by the brilliance of Tyrese Haliburton and the collective strength of the team. Whether they can close out the series on the Knicks' home court remains to be seen, but the performance in Game 4, under the unique circumstances of his father's return, will undoubtedly be remembered as a pivotal moment in Tyrese Haliburton's burgeoning legacy and the Pacers' inspiring playoff journey. The blend of personal narrative, historic achievement, and even a touch of unexpected celebrity drama made it a night that transcended the ordinary bounds of a basketball game.