Pacers Dominate Game 4 to Seize 3-1 Eastern Conference Finals Lead Over Knicks

Pacer Power: Indiana Pushes New York to the Brink

The Indiana Pacers just put the NBA world on notice. Monday night in Indianapolis, they unleashed a relentless offense and clamped down on defense to outlast the New York Knicks 130-121. With that, they hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, just one more win separates them from their first NBA Finals in nearly a quarter century.

If you’re looking for a single player to thank for Indiana’s surge, look no further than Tyrese Haliburton. The point guard was everywhere: scoring, dishing assists, snagging boards, dictating pace. By the final horn, he had notched a triple-double—his second of these playoffs—powering a team that looked dialed in from the opening tip. With every daring pass, sudden drive, and timely three-pointer, Haliburton made it look like he was playing chess on a court full of checkers.

But this wasn’t just about flashy stats. Aaron Nesmith, who barely made it through the first quarter after tweaking his ankle, hobbled back into the action and turned up the volume on defense. His assignment? Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ floor general and biggest hope. Nesmith shadowed him step-for-step, making Brunson fight for every shot and every inch. Nesmith also chipped in crucial buckets, sparking the building every time it felt like New York was about to claw back.

Knicks Fight Hard But Indiana’s Depth Proves Too Much

The Knicks didn’t roll over. Karl-Anthony Towns found his shot early, muscling into the paint and stretching the defense with smooth jumpers. He finished with a team-high in points, pouring in clutch baskets to keep New York within striking distance. Yet, every Knicks run met a wall—sometimes in the form of Haliburton, sometimes in Indiana’s swarming transition game that turned missed shots into lightning-fast breakouts.

Down the stretch, New York’s hustle couldn’t match Indiana’s composure. The Pacers pushed the pace, took smart risks, and—maybe most crucially—kept their cool with the game on the line. Bench players kept the energy up, making sure there was no letup even when starters caught a breather. Head coach Rick Carlisle’s trust in his rotation paid off big, as fresh legs turned defense into points over and over again.

Game 5 now heads back to the noise of Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will fight to keep their season alive in front of their home crowd. Can they flip the script? That’s the question on everyone’s mind. But after the way Indiana dialed it up in Game 4, the Pacers now control their own destiny—and New York is officially out of second chances.