The Indiana Pacers game winner that came right out of an NFL playbook
Tyrese Haliburton had a game winning four-point play to life the Indiana Pacers over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff chase for home court advantage in the first round. The two teams played on Tuesday and it was even all night, until Tyrese Haliburton drilled a four-point play that came right out of an NFL playbook.
Blue, 42... set, hike
After a game that had 21 lead changes and just one double digit lead through all four quarters, the Pacers were trailing the Bucks with 3.9 seconds left on the clock. Indiana needed a three to tie the game, and it had to be quick before the Bucks had a chance to foul and send the Pacers to the free throw line to shoot two FTs.
They inbounded the ball on the sideline, right at the five second line with all four guys on the floor lined up behind halfcourt. Three of the Pacers players ran diagonally across the floor, clearing out space for Tyrese Haliburton who slipped under the “screens”, caught the ball, drilled the three in the corner and got the foul.
We have seen plays like this before but they are usually run on the football field. Two or three receivers are lined up on one side of the ball, the first set of WRs go one way to clear out the defense and that leaves space open for the other WR to slip underneath for an easy reception.
Wilson and Seahawks not so lucky
The most notable, and memorable one that comes to mind is actually a play that didn’t work. Remember Super XLIX when the New England Patriots took on the Seattle Seahawks, and the Pats picked off Russell Wilson on the one yard line to secure the win in the last seconds of the game? That was the same kind of “clear out” play the Pacers ran on Tuesday night, only this one worked to perfection and won the Pacers the game.
🗓 February 1, 2015:
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This would be Tom Brady's 4th Super Bowl win.https://t.co/F8KWbUmL6X
After the Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted in celebration, there was still work to be done. Haliburton stepped to the FT line, knocked down the FT and gave the Pacers a one point lead with 3.0 seconds to go. It was far from a perfect night for Haliburton who went 1/5 from three point range ended the night with 14 points and 10 assists as the Pacers drew level with the Bucks at 36-28.
Because of a tie break the Bucks are currently ahead of the Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee sits in 4th place while the Pacers are in 5th. There is still a month to go in the regular season but these two teams look like they are going to battle it out until the final buzzer of the regular season.
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