Tyrese Haliburton didn’t have a great shooting night on Friday. But he found other ways to make a difference in the game — like a powerful dunk after grabbing a rebound, passing to open teammates, and waiting for the right moment to make a big play. And in the final moments of overtime, Haliburton wanted the ball.
The All-Star guard completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds remaining, achieving his first triple-double in the postseason during his first home playoff game.
This helped the Indiana Pacers secure a 121-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana now leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday in Indianapolis.
“I was determined to take the shot, no matter what,” Haliburton explained. “What I did was based on instinct. Khris pushed Pascal to signal Patrick to go under, and when I saw Patrick look away, I seized the opportunity and found an opening in the middle. Finally, I made a shot. I couldn’t seem to score tonight.”
Despite his struggles with shooting, with 8 out of 22 field goals and only 1 out of 12 three-point attempts, Haliburton excelled in other areas, recording 18 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, once again didn’t play for the Milwaukee Bucks due to a strained left calf.
Myles Turner scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, marking his best performance in the playoffs so far. This helped Indiana secure consecutive postseason victories for the first time since winning three games in a row in the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals.
This win also marks the first time the Pacers have led a playoff series since Game 3 of the first round against Cleveland in 2018. However, Indiana hasn’t won a playoff series since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2014.
“It was an exciting game, especially in overtime. What more could you ask for?” Haliburton commented. “The atmosphere was really enjoyable.”
But for the Bucks, the game might not have been as enjoyable. Middleton had a remarkable performance, scoring a playoff career-high of 42 points and recording 10 rebounds and five assists, despite missing practice on Thursday due to a sprained ankle.
He forced overtime with a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, then tied the score with another 3-pointer in overtime. However, he missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that could have forced a second overtime.
Damian Lillard also had a strong game, scoring 28 points and providing eight assists. He played most of the game after injuring his left knee in the first quarter and aggravating an Achilles tendon injury in the fourth quarter.
