If the NBA season ended in the present day, the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers would face-off within the first spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. If Tuesday night time’s appetizer was any indication, basketball followers can be in for an incredible collection if it occurs.
The Pacers surprised the Bucks, 114-113, within the Central Division showdown. There’s so much recent history between these two teams, and this recreation added one other memorable chapter.
The groups traded the lead backwards and forwards within the fourth quarter. Milwaukee took the lead with simply over a minute left on an amazing pass from Giannis Antetokounmpo to teammate Gary Trent Jr. for a corner three. The Bucks held the lead into the ultimate seconds till the Pacers known as timeout and drew up a play on their last possession.
The timeout superior the ball to heart courtroom, however Pacers nonetheless lined up close to the alternative three-point line. Indiana seemed favored they had been in a shotgun formation with 4 broad receivers, they usually ran an excellent play to spring Tyrese Haliburton free. All Haliburton did was catch the ball within the nook and drain a three-pointer whereas getting fouled. He made the free throw for the game-winning four-point play.
You received’t see many higher game-winners within the NBA this season. Watch the play right here:
I’ve performed sufficient Madden in my day to know that’s 4 Verts. My soccer writing colleague JP Acosta said it’s actually Shallow Sting. Both method, that’s an unbelievable play by Indiana to win a recreation over a rival in an inconceivable state of affairs.
Outdated good friend of this system Caitlin Cooper covers the Pacers higher than anybody at Basketball, She Wrote. In fact, Cooper is throughout this play. Cooper interviewed Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek over the summer season, and she or he broke down the precise play Indiana used to win the sport. Watch Cooper’s interview clip right here:
March is likely to be the doldrums of professional basketball, however moments like this remind us that the NBA Playoffs are going to be unbelievable. We’d like a Pacers-Bucks collection.
