This time, the New York Knicks dug themselves a hole too big.
Two days after they clawed back from a 20-point deficit to pull out a much-needed victory, New York could not overcome its fourth quarter deficit Tuesday night as the Indiana Pacers took Game 4, 130-121, to secure a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Indiana offense did go cold for a stretch in the middle of the fourth quarter, hitting just one field goal during a span of more than 5:35 of game time. That allowed the Knicks to charge on a 10-2 run that momentarily closed the deficit to six, but Indiana responded with timely buckets.
Indiana also took advantage of being in the bonus for most of the quarter, with the Knicks going a stretch of 12 seconds around the eight-minute mark in which they were whistled for four fouls.
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton carried Indiana with a 32-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double on 11-of-23 shooting. Haliburton was crucial in collecting rebounds and getting the Pacers to sprint out in transition, where Indiana earned a 22-9 edge on fastbreak points. His 12 boards were a career best, regular or postseason.
Pacers forward Pascal Siakam also dropped 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson led New York with 31 points on 9-of-19 shooting. He also went 11-of-12 on free throws. Karl-Anthony Towns was injured late in the fourth quarter. While he returned to finish the game, he was holding his left knee and limping throughout.
And now New York, which will host Game 5 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, will try to become just the 14th team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
Final: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
Tyrese Haliburton scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out 15 assists in a triple-double performance that helped lead the Pacers to a 3-1 Eastern Conference finals series lead over the Knicks.
He did it in front of his father, John, who was allowed back in Gainbridge Fieldhouse after a temporary ban by the Pacers for his on-court postgame altercation with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the NBA playoffs.
‘I’m glad Pops in the building. That had a little bit to do with it,’ Haliburton said during the postgame TV interview.
Pacers vs. Knicks highlights
Karl-Anthony Towns limping after taking big hit
Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is still playing but looks to be in plenty of pain late in Game 4.
In the fourth quarter, Towns was attempting a close out on Aaron Nesmith when the two collided. Towns appeared to be grabbing at his left knee and fell to the floor. He stayed down for a couple of minutes and was in visible pain as he went down on the floor.
After coming out for a brief respite, he came back in to finish the game, playing with a limp.
Pacers add to lead with stars on bench
In the final frame of Game 4, with both Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton getting rest on the bench, the Pacers are pulling away.
This was precisely the moment in Game 3 on Sunday when New York started to mount a run that eventually erased a 20-point deficit before the Knicks would hold on to claim their first game of the series.
This time, the Pacers were ready.
Indiana is playing with far more intention and assertiveness on offense, with backup guards T.J. McConnell and Benedict Mathurin both getting buckets after cutting into the paint. Then, forward Pascal Siakam drained a 3 to cap a 9-3 run, to open a 111-96 Pacers lead with 9:42 left.
End of 3Q: Pacers 102, Knicks 91
The Knicks aren’t out of it just yet, but time is running out to make a push and avoid a 3-1 series deficit.
Early in the third quarter it looked like Indiana would possibly run away with the game when it built a 12-point lead less than three minutes out of halftime. But New York has fended off the knockout punch and fought back to stay within striking distance. It cut the deficit to five points with less than five minutes left before Indiana cushioned the lead back to double-digits.
Turnovers and stopping the fast break continue to haunt New York. It has turned it over 14 times, leading to 20 Pacers points. Indiana also has 19 fastbreak points, while the Knicks have just two.
But getting to the free throw line has saved the Knicks. They are 26-for-29 from the charity stripe, and Jalen Brunson was 9-for-10 at the line in the third quarter alone. Indiana has gotten to the line 20 times total, making 18 of those attempts.
Brunson has a game-high 29 points, while Tyrese Haliburton has 28 points and is two rebounds from a triple double with 14 assists.
Another bad start to the half for New York
Look out, New York Knicks.
All postseason, the team has struggled at the starts of halves, and the beginning of the third quarter Tuesday night was no different. The Knicks opened the second half with a pair of turnovers on lazy passes that sparked Pacers fast breaks.
Going back to the end of the second quarter, the Pacers are on a 13-0 run after scoring seven unanswered to start the third, forcing Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to call an early timeout.
The Pacers now hold a 19-2 advantage in fastbreak points. Indiana is up 76-64, with 9:26 left to play in the third.
Halftime: Pacers 69, Knicks 64
It was a game of runs in the first half.
Both offenses for the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have gone on extended runs in what has been an entertaining, back-and-forth game with the Pacers taking a 69-64 lead into the half. The first half saw 10 ties and 13 lead changes.
Both teams are shooting well, with the Knicks knocking them down at a 52.4% clip and the Pacers firing at 55.6%. Turnovers, however, have been a problem for New York, sparking transition opportunities for the Pacers, who hold a 17-2 edge in fastbreak points.
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was aggressive in looking for his shot in the first half, and is two rebounds shy of a triple-double. Haliburton is headed into intermission with 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding 10 assists and eight rebounds.
The Knicks are led by their own All-Star point guard, Jalen Brunson, who has 16 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 14 — 12 of which came in the second period.
Celebrities spotted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Indiana native John Mellencamp was in the house, along with WWE’s Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and Jelly Roll. Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet were among the Knicks fans who made the trip. Former Pacers players Jermaine O’Neal, George Hill and Lance Stephenson also were spotted. Stephenson was chatting it up with comedian Mike Epps, who was born in Indianapolis. Former Knicks players Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing attended.
Knicks go on run, tie the score at 51
With Tyrese Haliburton getting a breather on the bench, Indiana’s offense has slowed down with turnovers and poor shot selection setting in.
The Knicks have capitalized, sparking a 9-2 run to tie the score at 51, with 7:19 left to play in the first half. The Knicks shot 5-of-6 from the floor with Haliburton on the bench. It’s the fifth tie so far in what has been a back-and-forth first half.
To generate their offense during the run, New York has pushed the ball up the floor and attacked the paint.
End of 1Q: Pacers 43, Knicks 35
Buckets are falling in Indianapolis on both sides, but the speed of Indiana has big a major key in the home team jumping out to a first quarter lead.
The Pacers got off to a quick start to take a seven-point lead just four minutes in. But New York brought in Josh Hart and the offense suddenly found a rhythm to get back and briefly jump ahead.
But just as the Knicks found something, Indiana was back to running around the court to re-take the lead. The Pacers closed the quarter on a 12-5 run in the final three minutes.
It’s been the stars showing up for both sides, primarily a near-perfect start from Tyrese Haliburton. He already is on triple-double watch as he has a game-high 15 points – including 3-for-3 from deep – with six assists and five rebounds. Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with 13 points and three assists.
There was a concern Aaron Nesmith wouldn’t be able to play due to an ankle injury, but he didn’t look like he was hurting. He was back to knocking down 3-point shots and had a big-time dunk to get Gainbridge Fieldhouse rocking. He has eight points and Pascal Siakim has 11.
Through one, the Pacers are holding a 12-2 edge in fastbreak points.
One thing to watch will be how the Knicks deal with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble. He picked up two fouls just four minutes in and sat out the rest of the quarter.
KAT, again, in foul trouble
Just two days after he spent much of the first half in foul trouble, Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his second foul early in the first quarter.
With 7:48 left to play in the period, Towns tried to fight through an Aaron Nesmith screen, and he hooked his arm around Nesmith for what was an easy, obvious call. Unnecessary fouls have been an issue for Towns throughout his career.
Not wanting to repeat the same issues as Game 3, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Towns, who had scored just 2 points, and inserted Josh Hart into the game.
Pacers race out in transition, build early lead
Both the Knicks and Pacers have started hot coming out of the tip, though the Pacers are playing at their speed and tempo.
Indiana is scooping rebounds and flinging the ball up the floor, looking to get open looks — a stark difference from the way the Pacers ended the second half of Game 3 Sunday. Aaron Nesmith may be slowed a bit by his bum ankle, but he drained a pair of early 3s and Tyrese Haliburton added another to give the Pacers an early 16-9 lead with 8:14 left to play in the first.
Indiana is shooting 5-of-7 (71.4%) from the field.
When is Knicks-Pacers Game 4?
Tip-off for Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Where is Knicks-Pacers Game 4?
The Pacers will host the Knicks from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Where to watch Knicks-Pacers Game 4
TV: TNT
Stream: Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV
Knicks at Pacers predictions and picks
Scooby Axson: Pacers 108, Knicks 94
Jordan Mendoza: Knicks 104, Pacers 101
Lorenzo Reyes: Knicks 103, Pacers 101
Heather Tucker: Pacers 117, Knicks 110
Jeff Zillgitt: Pacers 110, Knicks 95
Our NBA experts at USA TODAY Sports predict the Game 4 winner between the Knicks and Pacers:
The Knicks have been postseason road warriors. How have they done it?
The Knicks have trailed in the fourth quarters in five of their six postseason road victories so far this year.
In three of those, the Knicks have trailed by 20 points, making them the only team since at least the 1997 playoffs to win three road games in which they needed to rally from that many points down.
Overall, the Knicks are 6-1 on the road this postseason, tying a franchise record for most road victories in a single postseason.
So how, exactly, have the Knicks done it?
Their defensive effort and intensity has undoubtedly sharpened in those moments, but, after Sunday night’s victory in Game 3, numerous players like Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and forward Mikal Bridges cited increased communication as another element sparking these runs.
Pacers’ Nesmith available to play in Game 4
Pacers forward-guard Aaron Nesmith is available for Game 4 of the East finals Tuesday after he sustained a sprained right ankle in Game 3 against the Knicks.
Throughout the day, Nesmith was listed as questionable on the NBA’s official injury report but his status was upgraded to “available” on the 6:30 p.m. ET injury report. Nesmith is averaging 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds and shooting 53.5% on 3-pointers in the playoffs.
New York Knicks starting linuep
OG Anunoby
Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell Robinson
Mikal Bridges
Jalen Brunson
Indiana Pacers starting lineup
Aaron Nesmith
Pascal Siakam
Myles Turner
Andrew Nembhard
Tyrese Haliburton
Knicks at Pacers odds, line
The Indiana Pacers are favorites to defeat the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to the BetMGM odds.
Spread: Pacers (-2.5)
Moneyline: Pacers (-140); Knicks (+115)
Over/under: 221.5
NBA championship odds
BetMGM odds forNBA Finals winner as of Tuesday, May 27:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-375)
2. Indiana Pacers (+550)
3. New York Knicks (+1000)
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (+4000)
John Haliburton cleared to attend Pacers game
John Haliburton, the father of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, can return to Indiana Pacers home games after being told to stay away from home and road games following an on-court incident with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first round of the NBA playoffs, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Read more on the situation from USA TODAY’s Jeff Zillgitt.
NBA conference finals bracket
Eastern Conference finals
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 4 Indiana Pacers (Indiana leads series 2-1)
Western Conference finals
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (OKC leads series 3-1)
NBA conference finals schedule
New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135
Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109
Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100
Game 4, May 27: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
Game 5, May 29: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.
Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.*
Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.*
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88
Game 2: Thunder 118, Timberwolves 103
Game 3: Timberwolves 143, Thunder 101
Game 4: Thunder 128, Timberwolves 126
Game 5, May 28: Timberwolves at Thunder | ESPN, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.
Game 6, May 30: Thunder at Timberwolves | ESPN, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.*
Game 7, June 1: Timberwolves at Thunder | ESPN, Fubo | 8 p.m.*
All times Eastern; * ‒ if necessary
Knicks vs Pacers rivalry
The Knicks and Pacers played six memorable playoff series against one another over an eight-season span, including two consecutive matchups in the Eastern Conference finals in 1999 and 2000. The anticipation for this latest matchup has also triggered nostalgia for those classic battles between Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing, and how the Knicks and Pacers turned into an NBA playoffs rivalry. Here are some of the best (or infamous) moments from Knicks vs. Pacers playoff series, courtesy of Mark Giannotto.
Why is Spike Lee a Knicks fan?
The New York Knicks’ historic postseason journey this year has not only reignited the passion of veteran Knicks fans but also attracted a new wave of supporters, uniting them in a shared sense of pride and excitement.
Among the most enthusiastic supporters is Spike Lee, a longtime leader of the Knicks fan base.
The film director is often seen in Knicks gear, sporting the standout orange and blue in some fashion, and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a superfan in October 2024.
Why is Timothee Chalamet a Knicks fan?
This rare and exciting moment has ignited enthusiam for New York Knicks fans everywhere, including Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet.
Chalamet often joins the jubilant Madison Square Garden crowd alongside Spike Lee, a prominent figure on the Knicks’ sidelines. Chalamet’s fervent support for the Knicks, as reported by the New York Times, began during his high school days at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, when he was a budding actor striving to carve his niche.
Who is Mariska Hargitay?
Fans tuning in to a New York Knicks game have at some point probably seen actress Mariska Hargitay in the crowd at Madison Square Garden.
The star of the long-running NBC show ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ is a frequent presence along the sideline at MSG, with Knicks star Jalen Brunson calling the actress ‘my favorite person ever.’ What better co-sign could a fan ask for?
Here’s what to know about Knicks superfan Mariska Hargitay.
2025 All-NBA team
Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA voted on the squad. View the complete list.
