Tyrese Haliburton’s winner ices Bucks as Pacers take 2-1 series lead

INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton struggled to search out his capturing contact Friday evening.

So he regarded for different methods to influence the sport — a thunderous slam dunk off a rebound, discovering open teammates and patiently ready for an opportunity to make a press release. Then within the waning seconds of extra time, Haliburton wished the ball.

The All-Star guard accomplished a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left, capping his first postseason triple-double in his first dwelling playoff sport to provide the Indiana Pacers a 121-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana leads the best-of-seven collection 2-1, with Sport 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis.

“You already know I used to be going to shoot it it doesn’t matter what,” Haliburton stated. “What I used to be going to get was actually based mostly off of really feel there. Khris [Middleton] pushed Pascal [Siakam] as much as inform Patrick [Beverley] to go below, and as quickly as I noticed Patrick form of flip his head, I reacted and every little thing opened up throughout the center and I lastly made a shot. I could not purchase a bucket tonight.”

Haliburton was simply 8-of-22 from the sphere and 1-of-12 on 3-pointers. However he did nearly every little thing else proper, ending with 18 factors, 16 assists and 10 rebounds as two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo once more sat out for Milwaukee due to a strained left calf.

Myles Turner added 29 factors and 9 rebounds, each playoff profession highs, to assist in giving Indiana its first back-to-back postseason wins since taking three straight within the 2014 Jap Convention semifinals.

The Pacers even have their first lead within the playoffs since Sport 3 of a first-round matchup in opposition to Cleveland in 2018. Indiana hasn’t received a collection since reaching the 2014 East finals.

“It was a very enjoyable sport and extra time. What extra might you ask for?” Haliburton stated. “It was a very enjoyable environment.”

Maybe not so enjoyable for a Bucks crew that has gotten extra bruised and battered by the sport.

Middleton completed with a playoff profession excessive 42 factors and had 10 rebounds and 5 assists after lacking apply Thursday due to a sprained proper ankle. He compelled extra time by making a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to go in regulation, banked in a 3 to tie the rating with 6.7 seconds left in extra time after which missed a 3 on the buzzer that would have compelled a second extra time.

Damian Lillard added 28 factors and eight assists, most coming after he harm his left knee within the first quarter after which aggravated an Achilles harm late within the fourth quarter.

It was a wild end in entrance of a festive crowd decked out in gold T-shirts for Indiana’s first dwelling playoff sport since April 21, 2019, and with many native favorites in attendance. The gang included Indiana Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark, former Colts coach Tony Dungy, former Pacers ahead Derrick McKey and present Colts gamers Anthony Richardson, Kenny Moore II and E.J. Pace.

However these followers by no means anticipated to see the skilled Bucks methodically trim a 19-point first-half deficit to 90-83 after three quarters or open the fourth on a 10-2 run to take a 95-92 lead on Bobby Portis’ putback.

The groups then traded baskets, ties and leads over the ultimate 7½ minutes of regulation, with Siakam’s putback with 19.1 seconds left giving the Pacers a 109-106 lead. However Siakam missed the following free throw, Middleton answered with a midrange shot and the three to tie it. Siakam’s lengthy 3 to win it hit off the again of the rim on the buzzer.

It was extra of the identical in extra time till Haliburton broke free for the midrange shot that drew a foul and led to the decisive three-point play.

Siakam had 17 factors and 9 rebounds. Portis had 17 factors and 18 rebounds for the Bucks.