Nuggets, Pacers level their NBA conference semi series

Jamal Murray added 19 points for the Nuggets who were in no mood for more setbacks in Sunday's Game 4 in Minnesota, having dropped the first two games on their home court..

Anthony Edwards scored 44 points in another spectacular performance for Minnesota, shooting 16 for 25 from the floor.

Mike Conley added 15 points for the hosts but Karl-Anthony Towns went just 5 for 18 from the field for 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert came alive late to score 11 points and grab 14 rebounds.

Despite a 42-31 rebounding edge, the Wolves were beaten at their own game for the second straight time at home by the Nuggets.

Gordon didn't miss a shot until there was 3:39 to go. Most importantly, he took the lead in hounding Towns and even took some turns trying to slow Edwards.

"The shot-making, the play-making, the physicality, the defence on two All-Stars, so much is being asked of him right now," coach Mike Malone said.

"What you love about Aaron Gordon since Day 1, when he put on that Nuggets uniform, It's always been about the Nuggets first. He is truly selfless."

The Wolves showed off their league-best defence and their enviable depth in the first two games, but the Nuggets copied and pasted that formula on the road.

When their secondary scorers and bench players are hitting their jumpers, they're awfully tough to beat and Gordon, Justin Holiday (10 points), Christian Braun (11 points) and Reggie Jackson (six points) went a combined 8 for 11 from 3-point range.

In Indianapolis, after three games that went down to the wire, the Indiana Pacers were off and running early in Game 4 and the short-handed New Yorks Knicks could not keep up.

The Pacers routed the Knicks 121-89 to level their Eastern Conference semi-final series at 2-2.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 points and T.J. McConnell finished with 15 points and 10 assists as the Pacers collected the third-largest playoff victory in the franchise's history.

The Knicks, who again played without four key players because of injuries, looked fatigued.

Alec Burks finished with 20 points for New York. Jalen Brunson, who entered the day with a league-best 34.6 points per game in the postseason, scored only 18 on a day the Knicks shot 33.7 per cent from the field, 18.9 per cent on 3s and flirted with posting the worst playoff loss in franchise history.

"All we did was do our job," Haliburton said after finishing with six rebounds, five assists and four 3-pointers. "When you're at home, you have to protect home court, so we did our job. We understand the magnitude of Game 5 and we'll be prepared for that one."

Australian Associated Press