Tyrese Haliburton makes a big claim ahead of Game 6 against the Knicks

The Indiana Pacers had been cruising with a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Then, on Thursday, the New York Knicks gave them a bloody nose.

In front of a fervent home crowd at Madison Square Garden the Knicks powered to a 11-94 victory, leaving the series neatly poised heading into Game 6. It was the first time that the Pacers had failed to score 100 points this postseason and guard Tyrese Haliburton was kept under wraps with an impressive defensive performance form the Knicks.

Haliburton managed just eight points on Thursday, contributing a further six assists and two rebounds. He did not sink a single three-point shot all game. Speaking to reporters, Haliburton insisted that the team can bounce back.

“We’re a resilient group,” Haliburton said after the game. “We always want to respond when things don’t go well after a game like that. We understand what the stakes are. ... We’re fine. There’s no need to panic or anything.”

However while he was eager to maintain a positive outlook, Haliburton did concede that the team’s performance needs to improve if they are to avoid returning to MSG for a high-stakes Game 7.

“I got to be better, and I’ll be better in Game 6,” Haliburton continued. “We got to be better as a group. Our pace has to be better. That starts with me. I got to be better there.”

“As a group, we’ve shown that we can have some success this playoffs. This was a rough showing for us tonight. So we’ll watch the film, see where we can get better and be great.”

If the Knicks were to win the remaining two games and secure an unlikely comeback win it would undoubtedly go down in NBA playoffs history. Only 13 teams have ever previously come back from a 3-1 series deficit and only four have done so in a Conference Final or NBA Finals.

The sole 3-1 NBA Finals comeback came in 2016 when the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to win their final three games of the series to beat the Golden State Warriors. A LeBron James-inspired Cavs saw off the all-conquering Warriors to clinch their first and only NBA championship.

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