New York Knicks pushed to brink of playoff elimination with heartbreaking Game 4 loss to Indiana Pacers

The New York Knicks have been pushed to the brink of playoff elimination as a home team won for the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Indiana Pacers’ 130-121 victory.  

The Pacers held the lead from late in the second quarter on, with each New York attempt to regain the momentum necessary to tie the series headed back to Manhattan quelled.  

Tyrese Haliburton was nearly unstoppable throughout the game for the Pacers, as he finished with 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. The guard also had zero turnovers in the win. 

The Knicks now must win their next three games, including Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. 

New York had to battle through injuries and Josh Hart fouling out down the stretch as its final attempt at a comeback took place. 

Both Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby went down momentarily with injuries and fought through pain until zeroes were on the clock. 

The Knicks have not won a home playoff game since eliminating the Boston Celtics earlier this month and will have to take down the Pacers twice in Manhattan over the coming days to keep their season alive. 

The Pacers are now also one game away from making their first NBA Finals since 2000, and their second overall. 

The Knicks have not made it to a finals series since 1999, with plenty of legends from those games inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. 

Jalen Brunson could not take over the game late but did finish Game 4 with 31 points. Towns and Anunoby finished with 24 and 22 respectively. 

For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam was dynamite again and brought Indiana to the doorstep of an Eastern Conference title with 30 points. 

The Pacers had plenty of support from celebs inside the arena, headlined by Pat McAfee, who brought his boss with the WWE, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, to the rivalry showdown.  

Triple H has connections with the Pacers after hosting Haliburton at previous WWE events and with the city of Indianapolis, pledging a future edition of WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual show, to Naptown. 

Celebrity Knicks fans were also on hand for the critical game as Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Spike Lee all made the trip from the Big Apple with their favorite team go down 3-1 in the series. 

Games 6 and 7, if necessary are slated for Saturday and Monday, as the Thunder and Timberwolves compete to come out of the Western Conference to also play in the finals. 

John Haliburton his triumphant return to the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night in Indianapolis, although he wasn’t in his usual court-side seat. 

The elder Haliburton was forced to watch Indiana’s previous eight postseason games from afar after he ran onto the court and confronted Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo following his son’s last-second shot to eliminate Milwaukee for the second straight year, this time in five games.

Shortly after that game ended, Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged his father did the wrong thing and the elder Haliburton apologized on social media for his overexuberance: ‘I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.’

Just like MSG in Games 1 and 2, Game 4 in Indianapolis turned into a bit of a celebrity soiree.

Headlining the Indiana fan contingent were Pat McAfee and his WWE boss Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

McAfee hosts his weekday sports show from Indianapolis and is a sports legend in the town after his time as a punter with the Colts.

Triple H has connections with the Pacers after hosting star Tyrese Haliburton at previous WWE events and with the city of Indianapolis, pledging a future edition of WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual show, to Naptown.

Celebrity Knicks fans were also on hand for the critical game as Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Spike Lee all made the trip from the Big Apple.

Famous musician John Mellencamp and girlfriend Kristin Kehrberg were also at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to support the Pacers.

Other usual suspects seen at Madison Square Garden made the trip to Indiana including Spike Lee and Queens native 50 Cent.

On the other side of basketball fandom is comedian Mike Epps, who sat courtside for the game in a Reggie Miller jersey.

Not having a preference of team but taking in the game are Real Madrid soccer star Aurelien Tchouameni, musician Jelly Roll, and rapper RUSS.

The Spanish soccer season recently ended, with the Frenchmen coming over to the United States and attend the game with reported American girlfriend and influencer Suzette.

The contingent of Lee, Chalamet, and Stiller are likely to be at every Knicks game for the rest of the time they are in the postseason after attending several game this season in Manhattan.