Tyrese Haliburton and His Dad Take Center Stage in Pivotal Pacers Win
No one expected a family reunion to steal the spotlight in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals, but that's exactly what happened when Tyrese Haliburton and his father, John, turned Game 4 into a night the Indiana Pacers won't forget. The Pacers guard didn’t just play well—he put up cartoonish numbers: 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, and not a single turnover as Indiana outlasted the New York Knicks 130-121.
The whole night carried a different energy in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Maybe it had something to do with a familiar face back in the stands. John Haliburton, Tyrese’s father, had been sidelined with a ban after a heated on-court moment with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo during the quarterfinal series. Many fans wondered if that drama might throw Tyrese off in the postseason. Instead, it seems to have had the opposite effect.
When Tyrese took the post-game microphone, he didn’t dodge the question. Did his dad’s return give him a jolt? “Hell yeah, [he] had a little bit to do with it,” he admitted, grinning wider than he had all season. It was clear this game was about more than just basketball.
Tyrese’s Game 4 triple-double wasn’t just impressive—it was historic. Few NBA players hit that stat line in the playoffs, and almost none do it in such a clean way, with zero turnovers against a feisty Knicks team. He set the tone early, picking apart New York’s defense, driving the lane with confidence, and keeping teammates involved. By halftime, the Pacers had already built a cushion, and with each bucket, the crowd—and John Haliburton—got a little louder.
Pacers on the Brink, Fueled by Haliburton’s Comeback Story
Indiana now leads the series 3-1, putting them a single win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since the days of Reggie Miller. Game 5 will be at Madison Square Garden—a setting as high-pressure as it gets—but the Pacers’ locker room feels loose, even a little giddy. They know they’ve rattled the Knicks with ball movement and pace, and the return of a key fan might have just tipped the emotional scales in their favor.
For Tyrese, this wasn’t just another night padded with stats. Over the last week, he’s balanced post-game interviews, family phone calls, and questions about discipline after his dad’s short-lived playoff ban. Now, with the dust settled, he’s delivered his best game yet at just the right moment.
The Pacers are giving every sign of a team that believes. After the final buzzer, Tyrese shared a long hug with his dad—and then with almost every coach and teammate in sight. The message was simple: the job isn’t done, but for one night, all that drama paid off. Knicks fans aren’t ready to give up, but right now, the Pacers—and the Haliburton family—own the spotlight.
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