Patrick Mahomes and Caitlin Clark were among those left in shock after Tyrese Haliburton won game two of the Pacers-Cavaliers series in stunning fashion.
The Indiana superstar scored a three pointer with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock on Tuesday night. It meant the Pacers snatched victory, having been seven points down with 48 seconds remaining.
But Haliburton could soon find himself in hot water after toasting the win with an obscene celebration.
The 25-year-old, a two-time NBA All-Star, performed the ‘big balls’ dance which was popularized by former NBA guard – and current Celtics assistant coach – Sam Cassell.
Back in 2021, LeBron James was fined $15,000 over the celebration and Haliburton risked the wrath of the NBA after his astonishing game winner.
‘TY!!!!!!!! WHAT A WIN !!!!!! @Pacers,’ Caitlin Clark wrote on social media. The former No 1 overall pick plays for Indiana’s WNBA team, the Fever.
Patrick Mahomes also took to X to praise Haliburton. ‘Wow!!’ the Chiefs quarterback wrote alongside the laughing emoji.
It was Haliburton’s second last-gasp game-winner of this postseason after he eliminated the Bucks in similarly dramatic circumstances.
On Tuesday night, the Pacers beat the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals series.
Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the final 12 minutes. After Andrew Nembhard stole an inbounds pass by Cleveland’s Max Strus with 27.5 seconds remaining, Indiana tried to find a potential tying 3-pointer before Haliburton drove inside and got fouled.
He made the first free throw, but missed the second. Haliburton got the offensive rebound and dribbled out to the 3-point line, where he made it from the top of the key.
Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith led No. 4 seed Indiana with 23 points apiece. It’s the first time the Pacers have won the first two games of a playoff series on the road since a 1994 first-round set against Orlando.
