Tyrese Haliburton delivered a game-winning three-pointer after securing his own missed free throw, completing the Indiana Pacers' remarkable 20-point comeback to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 on Wednesday night. The victory gives Indiana a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
"It's a special feeling, man. It's a lot of fun," Haliburton said after the game. "Any basketball fan, or anybody who's involved in basketball at all... has imagined being a kid, being in the driveway, being in the living room, time winding down in their head, shooting it, missing, and putting more time on the clock. I'm just having fun out there. And winning is fun."
The dramatic finish came after the Pacers erased Cleveland's seven-point lead with less than 50 seconds remaining in regulation. Teammate Myles Turner summed up Haliburton's heroics simply: "Quite frankly, that boy cold, man."
Haliburton was fouled with just 12.1 seconds left on the clock. After making his first free throw, he missed the second but alertly grabbed the rebound himself.
"It's funny how it works out sometimes," said Haliburton, who scored 11 of his 19 points in the crucial fourth quarter. "The ball came off. I jumped to grab it. I was going to shoot the floater right there. I kind of was looking around, but I just wanted to get out to the top."
The Pacers' coaching staff opted not to call a timeout following Haliburton's rebound, allowing him to create space beyond the arc.
"And then I just saw me and Ty Jerome at the top of the key," Haliburton explained. "I had space, and I just tried to make a play. I felt comfortable there. And, you know, just knocked it down."
Following his clutch shot, Haliburton celebrated with Sam Cassell's famous "big balls" dance, acknowledging he'll likely face a fine for the gesture.
"I've been waiting for that, man; it was just right in the moment," Haliburton admitted. "I'll gladly take that fine."
The Pacers now head back to Indiana with momentum and a two-game advantage in the best-of-seven series.
