Pat McAfee Fires Up the Crowd, Calls Out New York Celebrities Before Pivotal Game 4

Pat McAfee channeled his WWE flair during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, grabbing the mic to hype up Pacers fans and playfully taunt Knicks supporters.

Pat McAfee Fires Up the Crowd, Calls Out New York Celebrities Before Pivotal Game 4

Pat McAfee and Tyrese Haliburton (Image by FirstSportz)

From his days as a Colts punter to his current position at the highest level of the sports-talk industry, Pat McAfee has always had a deep affection for Indianapolis, particularly the Pacers and their standout player, Tyrese Haliburton. On Tuesday, he even brought his ESPN program, “The Pat McAfee Show,” to downtown Indianapolis before the Pacers vs. Knicks Game 4 Eastern Conference playoffs.

This screamed bad news for the few Knicks celebrities at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With McAfee in attendance, it was sure, he would have a go at the Knicks celebrities: Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, and Timothy Chalamet. Before that, the Knicks were dominated by the Pacers in the second half of the game, with the latter winning Game 4 by 130-121.

The Knicks’ stars had plenty of turnovers in the second half, leading to their loss away from home. Some would say that it was McAfee’s trolling that played a role in this. McAfee lost his temper in front of several well-known Knicks supporters (mentioned above) in the building as the Pacers looked to take a decisive 3-1 series lead. And he did it face-to-face.

Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothee Chalamet is here. Let’s send these sons of bit***s back to New York.

Pat McAfee said

That was quite a statement, especially with thousands of fans backing you up at the arena. The moment has gone viral among the NBA community. The Pacers prevailed in a close game as they were able to thwart every Knicks attack. Haliburton played a key role, finishing with 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals, and zero turnovers.

That was particularly noteworthy considering how frequently the Knicks kicked the ball away—a total of 17 turnovers, which allowed the Pacers to make transition baskets. Possibly, the Knicks’ season may end in Game 5, on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

As for McAfee, there is a possibility that Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, might look into the statements he made in Indiana. As the fans have seen this season, the players and staff have been fined on numerous occasions when expletives were involved on live TV. McAfee might have to go through this as well.

Tyrese Haliburton makes NBA history in Game 4 against the Knicks

Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers demonstrated his superstar status once more on Tuesday. He has stepped up when his side has needed him the most. Not only that, his impressive stat line has also made NBA history in the process in Game 4. Haliburton has now joined the likes of Nikola Jokic and Oscar Robertson after dropping this performance.

In the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals, Jokic last accomplished the feat with a 37-point, 17-assist, and 17-rebound effort against the Phoenix Suns. Robertson, who played for the Cincinnati Royals in the 1962 and 1964 postseasons, achieved similar figures twice before Jokic.

In addition to his flashy offensive stats in Game 4, Haliburton recorded four thefts, something he only accomplished twice in the regular season. Now, with Game 5 approaching soon, Haliburton and Co. will be looking to put an end to this series as well as the Knicks’ hopes at the MSG.

Pacers HC Rick Carlisle honest verdict on ‘individual performances’ after Game 4 win

The Pacers team recovered from losing a match they should have won to defeat the Knicks handily in Game 4. Tyrese Haliburton gave this game his all, with his father back in the building. However, his HC, Rick Carlisle, is not a big fan of ‘individual performances,’ especially when it comes to the NBA Playoffs. He made his thoughts clear in the post-match presser.

I’m just really tired of talking about individual stats this time of the year. It just flies in the face of what’s necessary. I mean, this is a team game. It’s not about he numbers. It’s about being ready. And a lot of times, defining plays in the playoffs have nothing to do with statistical things. 

Rick Carlisle said

The former Mavericks coach is tired of the media focusing solely on statistics throughout the postseason. He believes that in the playoffs, a player’s performance is irrelevant. This is the time of year when a series may be changed by the togetherness and synergy of a team. That’s what he wants to draw attention to.

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