How Pacers beat the Bucks: Tyrese Haliburton spearheads stunning overtime comeback as Indiana ends Milwaukee's season

David Suggs

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How Pacers beat the Bucks: Tyrese Haliburton spearheads stunning overtime comeback as Indiana ends Milwaukee's season image

After posting an average margin of victory of 17.67 points in their first three victories over the Bucks this postseason, the Pacers looked well-equipped to close things out at home in Game 5.

Milwaukee had other ideas in the game's opening 52 minutes. The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr., opened up a pair of gulf-like advantages in Nap Town — including a seven-point mark with less than a minute left in overtime.

Basketball isn't decided in its first paces, however. It's defined by its last. And Indiana, fueled by late-game heroics from Tyrese Haliburton — and a few costly mistakes from Trent — prevailed, setting up a second-round duel with the Cavaliers in the process.

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Here's what you need to know about Indiana's epic late-game comeback.

How Pacers beat Bucks in Game 5

A tightly contested fourth-quarter gave way to an extra period of hoops in the Pacers and Bucks' Game 5 joust. For the first 4:20 of overtime, Milwaukee was on top — largely because of Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent's heroics.

Antetokounmpo was his typical ebullient self in regulation, authoring up another video game-like triple-double to give the Bucks a chance to extend the series. Trent, meanwhile, flourished in the extra frame, as the Duke alum splashed four triples in OT, good for nearly 86 percent of Milwaukee's overtime point total.

His final effort, launched from 27 feet out after another slick Antetokounmpo find, put the Bucks up four with 1:08 left. One Antetokounmpo basket and two AJ Green free throws later, Milwaukee's advantage had grown to seven with just 40 seconds left. Doc Rivers' side looked all but certain to capture a decisive Game 5 win:

Then, carnage took over Gainbridge Fieldhouse's gleaming hardwood.

Andrew Nembhard started the rally with a triple from the parking lot. He then corralled a loose pass from Trent. The ball found its way to Haliburton, who slalomed to the basket like a hunter wading through woodlands in search of a kill. He found it at the cup, finishing through Green to do so. The Indiana guard's and-one cut the Bucks' edge to just one with 17 seconds left.

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Rivers called a timeout, hoping to dial up a play that would see Milwaukee salt the clock away before the Pacers would inevitably foul.

That wouldn't happen, though; Trent fumbled Green's toss out of bounds, giving Indiana a window to take the lead in the game's final moments.

With 10.1 seconds left, Haliburton made his way down the court. Pascal Siakam set a screen on Trent, giving the All-Star a matchup against the former Defensive Player of the Year, Antetokounmpo.

Just as he had done throughout the fourth quarter and overtime, Haliburton juked right, then left, then right. A swift crossover sent him careening toward the rim with no one in his sights. Haliburton lifted the ball past Antetokounmpo's outstretched grasp and into the net, setting off raptures across his home stadium's concourses.

With just 1.8 seconds left — and no timeouts remaining — all Trent could do was hurl a three-quarter-court attempt wayward. The Pacers, down by as many as 20 points in regulation and down by as many as seven points in overtime, had pulled off the most unlikely of turnarounds. Now, Rick Carlisle's side was in the second round of the NBA playoffs, too.

Tyrese Haliburton stats vs. Bucks

  • Minutes: 42
  • Points: 26
  • Rebounds: 5
  • Assists: 9
  • Steals: 3
  • Turnovers: 1
  • FGM/FGA: 1/22
  • 3PM/3PA: 2/10
  • FTM/FTA: 4/4

Like many of Indiana's players, Haliburton enjoyed an uneven start to Game 5, attempting just two shots in the first half. He found his footing as the game wore on, getting to the rack with increased regularity in the fourth quarter and overtime.

His two-handed dunk with 10.1 seconds left in regulation knotted things up at 103 apiece.

His overtime exploits, meanwhile, set the stage for a wondrous Pacers rally, one that will likely linger in the halls of Gainbridge Fieldhouse for years to come.

Not so bad for the NBA's "most overrated player."

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.