Tyrese Haliburton seals victory for Pacers against Bucks, securing a 2-1 series lead.

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyrese Haliburton faced shooting struggles on Friday evening. Yet, he found alternate ways to leave his mark on the game: a powerful dunk off a rebound, facilitating for his teammates, and patiently biding his time for a defining moment. As overtime dwindled, Haliburton demanded the ball.

In the final moments, Haliburton converted a crucial three-point play with 1.6 seconds remaining, capping off his first postseason triple-double in his inaugural home playoff appearance, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a 121-118 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks. With this victory, Indiana seizes a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, setting the stage for Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis.

"I was determined to take the shot, no matter what," Haliburton asserted. "My decision-making in that moment was instinctual. When Khris [Middleton] directed Pascal [Siakam] to screen Patrick [Beverley] under, I seized the opportunity. Patrick's momentary distraction created space, and I capitalized. Tonight, buckets were hard to come by."

Haliburton's shooting performance was lackluster, going 8-of-22 from the field and a mere 1-of-12 from beyond the arc. However, he compensated admirably in other facets, tallying 18 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds, all while two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo watched from the sidelines due to a strained left calf.

Myles Turner also delivered a standout performance, notching playoff career highs with 29 points and nine rebounds, contributing significantly to Indiana's first consecutive postseason victories since the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Pacers now boast their first series lead in the playoffs since Game 3 of a first-round clash against Cleveland in 2018. Their last series victory dates back to their 2014 Eastern Conference finals appearance.

"It was an exhilarating game and overtime. What more could you ask for?" Haliburton remarked. "The atmosphere was electric."

However, the night wasn't as joyful for the Bucks, who faced mounting injuries.

Middleton showcased resilience, registering a playoff career-high 42 points alongside 10 rebounds and five assists, despite nursing a sprained right ankle. He forced overtime with a clutch 3-pointer in regulation's waning seconds, replicated the feat in overtime, but fell short with a missed attempt at the buzzer that could have extended the game.

Damian Lillard contributed 28 points and eight assists, despite sustaining a left knee injury early in the game and aggravating an Achilles injury late in the fourth quarter.

The game's conclusion unfolded amidst fervent cheers from the home crowd, adorned in gold T-shirts, marking Indiana's first home playoff encounter since April 21, 2019. Among the spectators were Indiana Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark, former Colts coach Tony Dungy, former Pacers forward Derrick McKey, and current Colts players Anthony Richardson, Kenny Moore II, and E.J. Speed.

The Bucks staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a 19-point deficit in the first half and even seizing a brief lead in the fourth quarter. However, Haliburton's heroics ultimately secured the win for the Pacers in overtime, clinching a pivotal victory in front of their jubilant supporters.

Siakam contributed 17 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, while Portis recorded 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Bucks.