The Indiana Pacers delivered a commanding performance, crushing the injury-plagued New York Knicks with a resounding 121-89 victory, leveling their Eastern Conference playoff semi-final series at 2-2.
In a display of dominance from the onset, the Pacers surged ahead with a 20-point lead after the first quarter, maintaining control throughout the game. Six different players contributed double-digit scores, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the charge with an impressive 20 points.
After trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Pacers showcased a remarkable resurgence, securing a crucial victory in game three and extending their momentum with another win in Indianapolis. The series now heads back to New York for game five, with both teams acknowledging the heightened stakes.
“We did our job,” remarked Haliburton. “They did their job and won two at home; we did our job and won two at home. Game five is higher stakes.”
In other NBA news, the Atlanta Hawks emerged as the fortunate recipients of the first pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft following their victory in the draft lottery.
The lottery, which determines the draft order for the 14 teams that failed to make the playoffs, saw the Washington Wizards securing the second pick, followed by the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs.
Last year’s lottery winners, the Spurs, utilized their pick to select Victor Wembanyama, who recently earned the title of Rookie of the Year.
