Haliburton’s Triple-Double Lifts Pacers Over Bucks in Thrilling Overtime Clash

In a game where his shooting touch was off, Tyrese Haliburton didn’t shy away from impacting the game in every other possible way. His efforts culminated in a game-winning three-point play with just 1.6 seconds remaining in overtime, marking his first NBA postseason triple-double during the Indiana Pacers’ thrilling 121-118 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.

This win puts the Pacers ahead in their series 2-1, with the next game set for Sunday in Indianapolis.

“You know I was going to shoot it, no matter what,” Haliburton said postgame. “What I was going to get was really based off of feel. Khris [Middleton] pushed Pascal [Siakam] up to tell Patrick [Beverley] to go under and as soon as I saw Patrick kind of turn his head, I reacted and everything opened up across the middle and I finally made a shot. I couldn’t buy a bucket tonight.”

Haliburton’s determination paid off as he finished the game with 18 points, despite shooting only 8 of 22 from the field and a dismal 1 of 12 from beyond the arc. He also added 16 assists and 10 rebounds, playing a crucial role in the absence of Bucks’ two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined due to a strained left calf.

The Pacers’ Myles Turner posted playoff career highs with 29 points and nine rebounds, contributing significantly to the team’s victory, which marks their first back-to-back postseason wins since the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals.

“It was a really fun game and overtime, what more could you ask for?” Haliburton remarked about the electric atmosphere in the arena.

The Bucks, on the other hand, faced a tougher night despite a standout performance from Middleton, who notched a playoff career-high 42 points along with 10 rebounds and five assists. Middleton’s heroics included forcing overtime with a last-second three-pointer and tying the game in the dying seconds of overtime before missing the potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

Damian Lillard, playing his first postseason with the Bucks, contributed 28 points and eight assists, impressing even after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury. “We’ve just got to turn the page and get one win after another,” Lillard said, focusing on the path ahead for Milwaukee.

The game was a seesaw battle, with Indiana initially leading by 19 points in the first half, only for Milwaukee to claw back and take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged leads and ties in a frantic end to regulation, leading into the gripping overtime period.

The Pacers now hold their first playoff lead since a 2018 first-round matchup against Cleveland, bringing renewed hope to a franchise that hasn’t won a series since the 2014 Eastern Conference finals.

As the series progresses, both teams are gearing up for an intense Game 4, with the Pacers looking to maintain momentum at home and the Bucks aiming to bounce back and level the series.