The New York Knicks fell 130-121 to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night, pushing them to the brink of elimination.
Despite a competitive first half that ended with the teams tied at 64, the Pacers capitalized on a late-second-quarter surge followed by a dominant start to the third, something Josh Hart acknowledged as a key turning point.
“We didn’t end the half how we wanted,” Hart said postgame. “There was a Haliburton three and a layup. We probably could have communicated a little better and gotten back in transition.”
Tyrese Haliburton delivered a historic triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals, and zero turnovers, becoming the first player to post that line in a playoff game since turnovers became an official stat in 1977-78.
Hart admitted that Indiana’s relentless tempo exposed defensive lapses. “You can stop one action, then it’s the next and the next,” he explained. “One person’s mess up messes up the whole possession.”
New York committed 17 turnovers in the loss, five of which came from Hart himself. “That leads to easy baskets, that leads to momentum,” he said. “It starts with me — we had to be more careful with the ball.”
Despite trailing the series 3-1, the Knicks swingman emphasized the team’s resilience heading into Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
“I’ve never known this team to quit,” Hart stated. “That’s not the character of the guys we have. Our backs are against the wall, but we’re competitors, and we’re going to bring it until the series is over.”
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, but New York struggled to contain Indiana’s high-octane offense, which shot 51.1% from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc.
Bennedict Mathurin added 20 points off the bench, and Pascal Siakam scored 30, giving Indiana multiple offensive weapons that New York failed to match.
Hart concluded by reaffirming the team’s focus heading into a must-win Game 5. “Obviously we’re disappointed with the position that we’re in right now, but we don’t quit.”
Game 5 tips off Thursday in New York, where the Knicks will try to extend their season and avoid a second straight playoff exit at the hands of the Pacers.
