Haliburton Heroics Lift Pacers Past Bucks, Advance to Round 2

The Indiana Pacers are moving on in dramatic fashion. Tyrese Haliburton delivered a go-ahead layup with 1.3 seconds left in overtime to lift the Pacers past the Bucks 119-118 Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, clinching the first-round series 4-1.

Indiana trailed by seven in the final minute of OT but closed on an 8-0 run, sparked by Andrew Nembhard’s three-pointer and defensive pressure that forced two turnovers. Haliburton led the way with 26 points and 10 assists, while Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith combined for 40 points and 21 rebounds.

Milwaukee, playing without Damian Lillard, leaned on a triple-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 33 points from Gary Trent Jr., but couldn’t hold on in the final moments.

Up next for the Pacers: a second-round showdown with top-seeded Cleveland.

NBA PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD – April 29

Pistons 106, Knicks 103 – Cade Cunningham posts 24-8-8 to force Game 6.

Celtics 120, Magic 89 – Jayson Tatum drops 35 points to close out the series 4-1.

Nuggets 131, Clippers 115 – Jamal Murray’s 43 points give Denver a 3-2 series edge.