BBNBA: Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks facing elimination after Game 4 loss

After pulling off a stunning comeback in Game 3 to inject some energy into the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks could not find enough scoring down the stretch to pull off a repeat.

The (3) Knicks came up short in Game 4 to the (4) Indiana Pacers, falling 130-121 on the road and into a 3-1 series hole. New York was able to rally from a 20-point deficit to steal Game 3, and trailed by as many as 15 points in Game 4, but Indiana knew the formula — in particular, Tyrese Haliburton knew the formula.

Hailburton (whose dad was finally allowed back inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse) was about as perfect as possible in Game 4, finishing with 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds without a single turnover. He nearly posted a triple-double by halftime: 20 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, although it was only a five-point Pacers lead at the break. The Knicks even led for a brief moment shortly before halftime. But the second half was all Indy, which never trailed following the intermission before cruising to the (potentially series-defining) victory. Pascal Siakam chipped in 30 more points for the Pacers.

Meanwhile, for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns, who was coming off a historic 20-point fourth quarter in Game 3, put together a solid overall performance. New York’s seven-footer went for 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists on 8-15 shooting in 37 minutes played. But once again, early foul trouble limited him before an apparent knee injury slowed him down even more after halftime. The injury clearly impacted his ability to run up and down the floor at times, but it never forced him out of the game.

Jalen Brunson contributed 31 points while OG Anunoby added 22 more for the Knicks, but overcoming another double-digit deficit proved to be too much in the end. The Pacers hit a handful of timely shots in the closing minutes to seal the win.

“We’ve been a team that has kind of found a way to do the impossible when it always seemed impossible,” Towns said postgame. “We just keep fighting. It’s gonna be a testament to our whole playoff run. Now we have to be in one of the biggest fights of our lives and of our season.”

New York is now one game away from going on summer vacation. Game 5 returns to the Big Apple with tipoff scheduled for Thursday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Tonight in the NBA Playoffs

Western Conference Finals | Game 5 | OKC leads 3-1
8:30 (ESPN) | (6) Timberwolves (Dillingham, Randle) @ (1) Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace)