Tyrese Haliburton is great at a lot of things, but beating the Milwaukee Bucks might be what he’s best at.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates his made basket and foul in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Haliburton made a game-tying three-pointer while being fouled, then sunk the subsequent free throw to give the Indiana Pacers a stunning 115-114 win over the Bucks.
The Pacers got the Bucks scrambling and Haliburton free with an innovative play that saw four Pacers start in the backcourt and disperse like wide receivers running pass patterns.
The victory moved the Pacers’ record to 36-28, the same as the Bucks. The two teams play again Saturday in Milwaukee, in a game that could determine who gets home-court advantage in the playoffs if the two teams meet again.
In the last two seasons, Haliburton is 8-4 against the Bucks, including a first-round series win last season and a win in the NBA’s in-season tournament.
Things got so heated last season that Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to storm the Pacers’ locker room to retrieve a game ball after a Bucks win (a Bucks official had already grabbed it for him).
Milwaukee took the first two games this season, limiting Haliburton to 30 total points, and held him to only 10 points for the first 47:56 of Tuesday’s game. But it was those final four seconds that doomed them.
The Bucks have been successful recently forcing Haliburton to be a passer against them — he had 10 assists against one turnover Tuesday — but Haliburton’s teammates can make them pay, especially in transition.
And like last year’s playoffs, the Bucks have no answer for Indiana’s superior bench. Bennedict Mathurin (17 points), T.J. McConnell (12) and Thomas Bryant (10) all scored in double figures off the bench. Obi Toppin made only one basket but it was quite memorable.
These teams are well-matched, and could deliver another memorable first-round series if the standings hold. It’s just that Haliburton was a little bit better at the end of the game. Maybe it’s that extra thrill he gets from beating the Bucks.
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