Friday’s NBA playoffs scores, takeaways: Tyrese Haliburton lifts Pacers in OT

Tyrese Haliburton related on a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left in additional time to elevate the Indiana Pacers to a 2-1 sequence lead towards the Milwaukee Bucks in the primary of three NBA playoff video games Friday night time:

the additional time game-winner from Tyrese Haliburton 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5VF0IroY54

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 27, 2024

Aaron Nesmith hit a nook 3 with 14.4 seconds left in OT to offer the Pacers a three-point lead. Khris Middleton tied it with a 3 of his personal earlier than Haliburton’s winner.

Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)

Series: Indiana leads 2-1

Game 4: 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Indiana

Can Pacers maintain the ball shifting?

It’s the core of the Pacers’ philosophy and the epicenter of basketball, however the ball has to maneuver.

Because of the expertise of each Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle and their unending chess match, playoff basketball can get extraordinarily ugly at occasions, as decent-sized chunks of this sequence have displayed. The Pacers, who normally function inside a high-octane setting, have been compelled to play at a slower tempo, thanks partly to Rivers’ defensive schemes. But when Indiana has had the higher hand and located areas to be efficient, the ball has moved across the ground, giving up good for excellent pictures.

During the common season, the Pacers had been the very best in the league at shifting the ball, averaging 308.3 passes per sport, in addition to main the NBA in assists per sport (30.8). They had been additionally among the many top-five groups in secondary and potential assists, additional highlighting their dedication to an unselfish model of basketball.

In Game 2, Indiana registered a whopping 38 assists on 50 made subject objectives. The Bucks seemingly turned up their defensive aggression one other notch Friday, forcing the Pacers to generate constant offense outdoors of Pascal Siakam — utilizing a mixture of doubles, strain and zone. By halftime, Indiana had 22 assists, with Haliburton chipping in 10 of them.

The second half (and additional time, particularly) changed into an entire slugfest, however the Pacers didn’t succumb to the Bucks’ persistence. Indiana had its justifiable share of unhealthy basketball, settling for low-efficiency pictures, however the ball by no means stopped shifting. The Pacers completed with 32 assists, half of which Tyrese Haliburton was answerable for. Ultimately, Indiana was the final group standing in an exhilarating, end-to-end duel. — Kelly Iko

Are the Bucks out of gasoline?

After being listed as questionable heading into the sport, Middleton scored 42 factors on 29 pictures. He performed 41 minutes in a gritty effort by the harm, however in the tip, it wasn’t fairly sufficient, and now it’s truthful to surprise what the Bucks have left in the tank heading into Game 4.

Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, this veteran group solely has a lot to offer, and dropping a 53-minute heartbreaker might put it in a tricky spot shifting ahead.

The Pacers took a 17-point lead after one quarter, and the Bucks clawed all the way in which again into the sport. But down the stretch, they simply didn’t have sufficient dimension and power to shut out defensive possessions. Regularly throughout the fourth quarter and additional time, the Pacers beat the Bucks to rebounds and stored possessions alive, which solely drained the Bucks additional. The Pacers scored 32 factors on 19 offensive rebounds, and that ended up being an enormous distinction.

Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks discover themselves at a deficit in many classes, and people deficits all ended up enjoying out towards them Friday. Grabbing a win in Game 4 will likely be a gargantuan process, however it could be the one method the Bucks can survive this sequence towards the younger, upstart Pacers. — Eric Nehm

This story will likely be up to date.

(Photo of Tyrese Haliburton: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)