Tyrese Haliburton delivered one of the most electrifying moments of the NBA season, sinking a clutch four-point play to lift the Indiana Pacers to a stunning 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
The incredible play by Tyrese Haliburton
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With just seconds remaining and the Pacers trailing by three, Haliburton sprinted along the left sideline, took a handoff-style inbound pass, and launched a deep 3-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo while fading out of bounds. The shot fell, and the whistle blew-a game-changing and-1.
Haliburton coolly sank the free throw with 3.4 seconds left, sealing the win after Antetokounmpo’s last-second three-point attempt missed at the buzzer.
Haliburton Calls It “A Football Play”
“It’s like a football play,” Haliburton said postgame, explaining how his teammates ran crossing routes to free him up. “It was great to see it work. The first time we ran the play in training camp two years ago, I made the shot the same way. I usually hate running the play.”
Despite fading near the baseline, Haliburton had no doubt about his positioning.
“I’ve shot that shot enough to know where I am on the court,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting it off. I just rose up, jumped higher than I normally do, and it went in.”
Coaching Brilliance and Reggie Miller’s Presence
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle credited his coaching staff for designing the play. Assistant Jenny Boucek originally created it, while Mike Weinar tweaked it for this moment.
“What an amazing sequence of events,” Carlisle said. “And Reggie (Miller) was in the building. They’ll be talking about Tyrese’s clutch shot for years.”
Miller, a Pacers legend and Hall of Famer, was calling the game for TNT, adding to the historical significance.
“There’s definitely a lot of Reggie Miller moments in this building,” Haliburton said. “I’m just trying to make my own.”
Haliburton Returns from Injury, Pacers Climb in Standings
Returning after missing three games due to a hip injury, Haliburton made an immediate impact, finishing with 14 points, 10 assists, and the game-winning heroics. His return helped the Pacers pull even with the Bucks in the Eastern Conference standings.
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Pascal Siakam, who led Indiana with 25 points and 12 rebounds, marveled at Haliburton’s shot.
“Just an impossible angle, over Giannis,” Siakam said. “I don’t think he can even see over him.”
