Tyrese Haliburton Dominates With 32-Point Triple Double
In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tyrese Haliburton put together a masterclass, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 130-121 victory over the New York Knicks to take a 3-1 series lead. Haliburton finished with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, and, perhaps most impressively, no turnovers.
Because of Haliburton’s efforts in this game and throughout the playoffs, the Pacers are just one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. The NBA is witnessing just how good Tyrese Haliburton is on the biggest stage of his career thus far.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Performance
Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 4 was an encapsulation of what makes him such an excellent point guard. Even though the Knicks kept it close, Haliburton had complete control of the game and looked like the best player on the floor. He has faced significant criticism this season, being dubbed overrated by fans and NBA players alike. Some of this criticism is due to his playing style. Haliburton is the type of player where, if shots are not falling, much of his contributions can go unnoticed. However, he is one of the most efficient players in the league in terms of assists and turnovers.
Indiana plays at a very fast pace, turning games into track meets, and Tyrese Haliburton is the engine that powers that system. They have a very deep roster full of talented contributors who all benefit from playing with Haliburton. In an era of ball-dominant scoring guards like Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Anthony Edwards, Haliburton is one of the NBA’s premier floor generals. He always makes the right pass or read and does not commit many turnovers. In Game 4, that was on full display. Haliburton netted 15 assists with no turnovers.
It also helped that Tyrese Haliburton’s shots were falling. He went 11-of-23 from the field and 5-of-12 from three, and was especially good in the first half. Haliburton had 20 points at halftime on efficient 6-of-12 shooting, going 4-of-7 from three. He already had two-thirds of his triple-double in the first half with 10 assists and 8 rebounds. This emphatic start and historic performance propelled them to a win, where they led for most of the game.
The Pacers’ Championship Hopes
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers are just one win away from the NBA Finals. In their storied history, Indiana has only reached the NBA Finals once in 2000, when they were beaten handily by the Los Angeles Lakers. It would mark a historic season for the Pacers when few expected them to make it this far. Indiana was always going to be a tough out in the playoffs with their fast pace and incredibly deep roster, but many believed the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics would represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals. They were both bounced in the second round.
Right now, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 3-1 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. If they were to meet Indiana in the finals, barring any 3-1 comebacks, it would be a matchup of elite offense versus elite defense. Surely an intriguing series to see how Tyrese Haliburton would attack them. But New York is still alive.
The Knicks have been resilient all season, and with Game 5 in Madison Square Garden, they could swing the pendulum back in their favor. But to do so, they need to find some way to stop Haliburton and the Pacers’ offense, which is looking less and less likely.
Final Thoughts
Tyrese Haliburton has had many excellent games and clutch moments throughout these playoffs, but his Game 4 performance was one of his best. A 32-point triple-double with zero turnovers is the dream for a franchise point guard. Now, the Pacers can make the NBA Finals with one more win.
