Tyrese Haliburton drove past Giannis Antetokounmpo and banked in a layup with 1.3 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Pacers to a 119-118 win over the Bucks in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 29.
Indiana erased a seven-point overtime deficit with an 8-0 run. Andrew Nembhard hit a corner 3-pointer, then stole the inbound pass to set up the comeback. The Bucks, playing without Damian Lillard (Achilles), committed back-to-back turnovers in the final 30 seconds.
Haliburton, who had struggled late in regulation, delivered in the final seconds. His layup capped one of the Pacers’ most dramatic wins in recent memory.
He offered one of the great individual play-off runs in the history of the NBA.
coach Rick Carlisle said.
"He offered one of the great individual play-off runs in the history of the NBA" 👏
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 23, 2025
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle pays tribute to Tyrese Haliburton after he was forced off with injury in the first quarter 🏀 pic.twitter.com/BARkNDGUmu
Indiana advanced past Milwaukee, then beat Cleveland in five games and New York in six to reach its first NBA Finals since 2000. But the run ended in heartbreak. Haliburton tore his right Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7, a 103-91 loss to Oklahoma City at home.
The injury will sideline Haliburton for the entire 2025-26 season. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned Finals MVP with 29 points and 12 assists in the clincher.
Haliburton’s layup against Milwaukee now stands as the defining moment of a run that ended one win short.
Tyrese Haliburton shared a message from hospital bed
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton shared a message Monday from a hospital bed after tearing his right Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals, calling the injury “unfathomable” and vowing to return.
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense… Give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton wrote on X, on Monday.
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
The 25-year-old’s postseason run had propelled Indiana to its first Finals appearance since 2000. With Haliburton sidelined, fans and teammates are now hoping for a full recovery and eventual return to form.
READ: Tyrese Haliburton Creates NBA Playoffs Record against Knicks in 4th Conference Final Match
