In the early moments of the fourth quarter on Saturday, the Pacers took a deep breath.

After three-plus games, they had finally given the Bulls more than they could handle and the series was going back to Chicago for a fifth game.

Indiana led by 17 points with more than 10 minutes to go and held an 84-71 advantage with 2:17 remaining at Conseco Fieldhouse, which seemed to hold more Bulls fans than Pacers’ supporters.

At approximately the time when you might question why Tom Thibodeau still had his big guns in a game that was lost, Chicago made another one of their patented late runs, which allowed them to sneak away with wins in the first three games of the series.

In a two-minute span the Bulls went on a 13-1 run, cutting their deficit to 85-84 after a three-point play by Joakim Noah. In a frantic few seconds Danny Granger bookended Carlos Boozer’s desperation three-pointer with two pairs of free throws to seal Indiana’s first postseason win since 2006.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Prior to Game 4, with the Pacers facing elimination despite three inspiring performances, I wrote that the best chance they had to finally break through with a victory was to enter the final minutes with a significant lead. Had it not been for their double-digit edge, they’d be gearing up for the summer instead of a game on Tuesday night in Chicago.

Granger has been great all series and he was everything his team needed on Saturday afternoon. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes, while shooting 9-for-19 from the field. His shot selection has been questionable at times this season, but he’s shot the ball well in the series.

His rebounding and leadership were among the reasons Indiana fought off elimination. He was incredibly active on both ends of the floor, often crashing the offensive glass for putbacks, which isn’t something we saw in the first three games.

While his playoff experience is limited, he was a steadying force for the young Pacers as they watched their seemingly insurmountable lead vanish in the final moments.

Granger was the star in Game 4, but center Roy Hibbert also deserves a nod for his best performance of the series. He looked hungry and was able to be more aggressive as he avoided foul trouble. After tallying five fouls in each of the first three games, he had just three.

His 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks will hopefully give him the confidence to make an impact in Game 5. He takes good shots and they were bound to start falling with greater regularity as the series progressed.

Derrick Rose’s deadly penetration is easier to defend with Hibbert on the floor and his presence alters shots that he may not even be in position to block.

If the Bulls weren’t aware of how dangerous the Pacers were before, their first loss of the young playoffs should be enough to wake them up. As tightly-contested as the first four games have been, Game 5 will likely reach a new level.

Protecting the Basketball

The Pacers had just three turnovers in the first half of Game 4, but they committed eight in the final two quarters, including a number of panicked miscues as the Bulls made their run late in the fourth.

Having a healthy Darren Collison helps, but A.J. Price also did a good job of taking care of the ball while he was on the floor. As those who watch the Pacers with regularity know, Hibbert often goes through stretches were he struggles in that respect. He had three turnovers on Saturday, with Granger saving him on at least one occasion with two points off a lost ball.

The Bulls are going to have higher quality possessions and they’ll likely also have an edge on the glass and at the foul line, which makes it imperative that Indiana limits their turnovers.

Drawing From Game 4

The Pacers would have entered Game 5 with supreme confidence had they cruised to a victory as it seemed they would. Instead, they’ll be looking over their shoulders all game waiting for the Bulls to make their customary run.

Rather than focusing on their near-historic collapse, Frank Vogel and Co. should instead draw from their great defense on Chicago’s final offensive possession. With time limited and the score 87-84 in favor of Indiana, the Bulls had their eyes on a three-point attempt.

It took longer for Chicago to get their play started thanks to great ball-denial and each Pacer played his assignment perfectly, leaving Boozer as the only man with a good look at a triple. Keeping Rose and Kyle Korver from getting an open look was as important as Granger making his free throws.

You have to wonder if Thibodeau relayed the possibility of a quick two to his team prior to the possession. There was plenty of time to drive for a quick two -- perhaps with Rose even drawing a foul to stop the clock -- which would have put pressure on the Pacers to not only inbound the ball, but also convert at the line with a slimmer lead.

Limiting Rose

For the second consecutive game, Rose was held to a below-average effort. Of course, for most point guards his stat line (15 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and four steals) is far from average.

Dahntay Jones was once again employed to frustrate Rose, which led to his 6-for-22 shooting performance. He shot just 25% in two games at Conseco and attempted just four foul shots in Game 4. He averaged nearly that many per quarter through the first three contests. 

While Paul George and Jones get most of the credit for their on-ball defense, having Hibbert out of foul trouble helped Indiana’s cause as well. One of Rose’s missed field goals should also be credited to Collision, who made an incredible defensive recovery on a turnover, sending a lay-up back into Rose’s face. The play may have saved the game.

Who Steps Up?

The Pacers have used a balanced attack all series, but on the road they’ll need someone to step up in support of Granger and Hibbert in Game 5 if a sixth game is in the cards.

Price (10 points) was the only player aside from Granger and Hibbert to reach double-figures on Saturday, meanwhile Chicago saw four of their starters notch at least 15 points. Indiana’s greatest chance to win is with their depth and they need Tyler Hansbrough, Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Rush, Collision or George to step up with a dozen or so points to take defensive pressure off of Granger and Hibbert.

Hansbrough was especially quiet in Game 4, as were Collison and Rush. The trio combined to score just 10 points on 4-for-21 shooting. The rest of the team shot 46.5%.