The Indiana Pacers are a win from their NBA finals spot, beating the Eastern Conference champions of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks and Pacers Race 5 Preview
The Pacers last advanced to the championship in 2000, they beat the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.
Indiana bids follow the feat 25 years later, but if Rick Carlisle’s team crosses the game above MSG on Thursday.
The Pacers and the Knicks competed fiercely in the 1990s, meeting six times in the playoffs from ’93 to 2000 – and had another six competitions in the playoffs before Indiana won six games in 2013.
In Game 4, Pacers leader Tyrese Haliburton recorded historic triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds without making a turnover.
The 25-year-old became the first player in postseason history to score at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, as he first tracked the turnover in the late 1970s.
It’s just a coincidence, after his father John was allowed to return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, was it a coincidence after the on-field ban occurred in the first round with Milwaukee Bucks star Gainnis Antetokounmpo?
With the Pacers leading 3-1 in the series, Indiana scored 33 points in Halliburton’s 22-shot pass percentage, the team’s success shows that collective basketball with elite chemistry is stronger than any group of senior talents.
Indiana has never led the final 3-1 in the first nine games, so it’s an unknown territory for the Pacers, but they show they have the ability to reach new heights.
Through the series, Halliburton averaged 24.3 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds per game, so it’s safe to assume that the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award would be pretty if Indiana advanced.
But, as mentioned above, the Walkers play incredibly high levels of roles on Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin.
The Knicks lineup is undoubtedly more firepower than the Pacers, but despite the talent gap, they don’t look as good as Indiana and have a long way to go.
Watch: Tyrese Haliburton’s all-time triple-double in Game 4
Knicks and Pacers injured 5 times
New York Knicks Injury
C Karl-Anthony Towns (Knee; suspicious)
Indiana Pacer injured
F Aaron Nesmith (Knee; Suspicious), F Isaiah Jackson (Achilles; Out)
Which TV channel is the 5-game Knicks vs Pacers?
The Knicks’ Game 5 vs. Pacers will be aired nationwide on TNT.
