Milwaukee Bucks' playoff prospects take a hit as Haliburton and Pacers secure a narrow 119-118 overtime victory.
Loose Cannon's Take:
Hoosier Heartbreaker Haliburton sinks buzzer-beater to oust Bucks
INDIANAPOLIS (Street Talk) - Tyrese Haliburton thought he'd ruined the party for the Pacers in the closing seconds of regulation.
Boy, was he wrong.
A double-dose of desperation from the Pacers in the remaining second, forced by the man himself, set the stage for one of the most nerve-wracking finishes in franchise history.
The Pacers forced two turnovers in the last 29 seconds of overtime. Haliburton outmaneuvered Giannis Antetokounmpo with a gutsy layup for the win with only 1.3 seconds left, igniting an 8-0 run that ended with a 119-118 knockout of the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, clinching a 4-1 series victory.**
"Tonight will go down as one of the hardest-fought Pacers victories," Coach Rick Carlisle said, appreciating his team's resilience. "Ty was a big part of that. So big ups to him."
Next up for the Pacers: top-seeded Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 faces off on Sunday.
Haliburton dropped 26 points and distributed 10 assists to boost his perfect playoff home record to 9-0. Not too bad for a dude who missed some open shots and a layup at the end of regulation.
"I got in my own head a bit after missing those shots," Haliburton admitted. "But my boys had my back, picked me up, and that’s all I needed."
The Bucks'Backend Bandit Antetokounmpo fought tooth and nail to bring the troops home, netting 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists. Credit where it's due, buddy.
Gary Trent Jr., the Sniper from Beyond, scored 33 points, hitting four of his eight 3-pointers in overtime, until two crucial careless passes cost the Bucks the game. His last-gasp shot from half-court didn’t even come close.
This time around, Indiana took home the prize, marking three consecutive first-round playoff series losses for the Bucks. It’s a rivalry that’s gotten pretty heated, and this one ended in a courtroom brawl.
Tyrese Haliburton, Sr., started the fracas when he bolted onto the court, getting all up in Antetokounmpo's grill. Haliburton Jr. - who was celebrating vociferously on the scorer's table, arms raised - didn't even notice. He was too busy pumping up the yellow-shirted crowd like Reggie Miller during his glory days with the Pacers.
"I was down about missing those shots at the end of regulation," Haliburton said. "But my teammates stood by me, supporting me. They believed I could seal the deal, and I did."
But as everyone knows, it wasn't all on Haliburton.
Andrew Nembhard initiated the game-changing surge, draining a three-ball to cut a seven-point Bucks lead to 118-114 in the dying seconds of overtime. It was Nembhard who stole the inbounds pass from Trent Jr. near the sidelines with 29 seconds left to set up Haliburton's game-tying triple from downtown.
When the Bucks were on the ropes, the Pacers pounced, forcing a turnover from Trent Jr. with 10.8 seconds left to set the stage for Haliburton's game-winner.
[1] Haliburton cements clutch-time legend status with game-winner[2] Haliburton on a historic clutch-time run in the 2025 playoffs[3] Haliburton's averages and shooting percentages
[1] Haliburton's averages during clutch-time moments in the 2025 NBA playoffs were impressive, with a remarkable performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, where he sank a game-winning buzzer-beater, showcasing his sizzling hot shooting accuracy in basketball's crunch-time scenarios.
[2] As the Pacers' go-to player in crucial game situations, Tyrese Haliburton has demonstrated a consistent average of exceptional plays during clutch-time moments, often boasting impressive shooting percentages, making him a true NBA clutch-time legend in the world of professional sports.
