Pacers Stumble in NBA Finals Bid as Haliburtons Performance Falls Flat Against Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton’s remarkable triple-double performance was followed by a night where he struggled to make an impact in any category.

With their star playmaker subdued, the Indiana Pacers were unable to secure a second trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, suffering a 111-94 defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 5 on Thursday evening.

For their next attempt at home on Saturday, the Pacers will need Haliburton to return to the form he showcased in Game 4 instead of the version who only managed two baskets in Game 5.

“It was a tough night for me,” Haliburton acknowledged.

In Game 4, Haliburton posted an impressive line of 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds with zero turnovers, becoming the first player since 1977-78 to achieve a 30-15-10 stat line in the postseason.

However, in Thursday’s match, he ended up with just eight points, six assists, and two rebounds, failing to score in the first half when the Pacers only managed 45 points, a mere two more than they scored in the first quarter of Game 4.

“I need to set a better tone and drive more effectively. I didn’t execute that well tonight, but I’ll review the film,” Haliburton remarked. “They did switch up their defensive approach somewhat, but for the most part, their basic strategies were consistent. They increased the pressure as the game progressed. I need to improve, and I will in Game 6.”

The Knicks reduced their errors from Game 4, which had allowed Haliburton and the Pacers to excel in fast breaks. They also tightened their halfcourt defense, preventing Haliburton from penetrating the lane to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates.

“It’s a mix of him missing some usual shots, but our team also worked cohesively to make him earn every point, and that’s essential,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau commented.

The Pacers recorded their lowest scoring game of the playoffs, finishing with a shooting percentage of only 40.5%. Haliburton wasn’t alone in his struggles; Aaron Nesmith made just 1 of 8 attempts, despite previously scoring a postseason career-high 30 points at the same venue during Indiana’s Game 1 comeback.

Pascal Siakam, who had achieved a postseason high of 39 points in Game 2, was confined to only 15 points—making him the sole Indiana starter to reach double digits.

“As a collective unit, we didn’t perform well,” Haliburton stated.

“We committed too many turnovers and didn’t rebound to our potential, as we’ve shown throughout this series. When you fail to execute those two aspects against a team like the Knicks in a tightly contested game, it becomes challenging. We need to improve together. I believe our pace must be more effective, and that’s something I need to lead on.”