Pacers Take 2-0 Lead Over Knicks in Eastern Conference Finals

NEW YORK, NY – The Indiana Pacers shocked fans Friday night, beating the New York Knicks 114-109 at Madison Square Garden to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In a hard-fought game, the Pacers maintained their composure after overcoming adversity in previous matchups. Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton contributed significantly, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists.

Despite shooting just 5-of-16 from the field and 3-of-10 from three-point range, Haliburton’s all-around performance helped secure the victory. Following the game, he reflected on the match against a determined Knicks team.

“After a game like Game 1, you understand they’re going to come in frustrated. We knew they were going to amp up the physicality,” Haliburton said. “But the biggest thing for us was, ‘Don’t wait for them to throw the first punch, let’s throw the first punch.'” He emphasized staying focused and taking the game play by play.

Commenting on his earlier criticism of Haliburton’s demeanor, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal publicly apologized after the game. O’Neal had previously urged Haliburton to adopt a ‘killer instinct.’ He acknowledged his misjudgment after the Pacers’ strong performance in Game 2, stating live on air, “Tyrese, Shaq here. I owe you an apology. During the interview, it looked like a bit too much giggling for me. I thought you guys weren’t serious, but you were.”

In this pivotal game, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers scoring with a playoff career-high 39 points. The storyline continues as the Pacers move back to Indiana for Game 3 of the series on Sunday, just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.