McAfee makes Pacers fans ‘go ballistic’ during blowout playoff win over Knicks

ESPN host Pat McAfee had Indiana Pacers fans roaring during Sunday’s 121-89 win against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The former NFL punter-turned-sportscaster pulled up to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to watch Indy tie the second-round NBA playoffs series up in Game 4.

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And McAfee, 37, made sure the Pacers faithful didn’t stop cheering on Indiana stars even as they held a 38-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The ESPN sportscaster, who wore Tyrese Haliburton’s No. 0 jersey, showed up next to the team’s emcee before the fourth period began.

After a brief introduction, he took the mic and addressed the fans in the stands.

“Indianapolis, Indiana. We’re 38 points going into the fourth quarter,” McAfee screamed.

“Are we going to shut it down? Or we’re going to turn this s**t up?

“Let’s blow the roof off this place! Let’s go!”

Gainbridge Fieldhouse only got louder after McAfee’s speech – and his cameo didn’t go unnoticed on NBA Twitter.

“Pat McAfee is a f**king legend,” one posted on X.

“Pat McAfee hyping up the crowd is fire,” another wrote.

“Pat McAfee gets the mic and the crowd goes ballistic,” a third said.

“Crowd noise doubles. Goat.”

After the game, McAfee dapped it up with Haliburton, 24, who logged 31 points, six rebounds, and five assists against the Knicks on Sunday.

The ESPN host then thanked the Pacers playmaker for the courtside seats he and his wife, Samantha, occupied during the clash.

Earlier this week, the retired NFL star showed he had been paying attention to Indiana’s playoff run.

McAfee addressed the controversy over the officiating in the conference semifinals series on the Friday edition of his show.

“The Pacers and the Knicks play in Indiana, our city, the refs might feel a little differently,” he said before Game 3.

“Carlisle’s trying to rally the boys, he’s also trying to send a message to the league, the league that only gave him a $35,000 fine, which is awesome.

“Certainly there’s a chance him calling out the refs for screwing over a small-market team would potentially lead to the integrity of the game being questioned.”

The Pacers crushed the Knicks so badly in Game 4 that New York fans begged head coach Tom Thibodeau to rest Jalen Brunson in the third quarter.

Brunson hurt his foot earlier in the series, adding to the team’s growing injury concerns.

The Knicks are already playing without Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mitchell Robinson this postseason.

Meanwhile, forward OG Anunoby has missed two straight games with a hamstring strain.