If the NBA season ends today, Milwaukee Bucks The Indiana Pacers faced off in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. If the appetizer on Tuesday night was any indication, basketball fans will be in a great series if it happens.
The Pacers surprised the 114-113 Bucks in a central division showdown. There is so much recent history between these two teams, and the game has added another memorable chapter.
The team moved back and forth between the leads in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee led with just over a minute left. Amazing pass from Giannis Antetokounmpo to his teammate Gary Trent Jr.. The Bucks held the lead in the final seconds before the Pacers called a timeout and painted the play in final possession.
The timeout allowed the ball to the center court, but the Pacers still lined up near the opposite three-point line. Indiana likes to be in the shotgun layer with four wide receivers, and they played great for the spring Tyrees Halliburton Free. All Halliburton did was catch the ball in the corner and drain a three-pointer while it was fouled. He made free throws for a game-winning four-point play.
We won't see more of the better Game Weiners in the NBA this season. Watch the play here:
I played Madden well on my day to know it was the four pinnacles. My soccer writing colleague JP Acosta He said it was actually a shallow stab wound. Either way, it's an incredible play by Indiana to win a game around rivals in impossible circumstances.
Old friend of the program Kate Linkoper covers the pacer more than anyone else Basketball, she wrote. Of course, Cooper is in this play. Cooper interviewed Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boosek over the summer, who broke the exact play Indiana used to win the game. Check out Cooper's interview clip here:
March may be a decline in professional basketball, but moments like this remind us that the NBA playoffs will be incredible. The Pacers-Bucks series is required.
