The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a crushing 115-114 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with a controversial late-game defensive miscue proving costly.
Tyrese Haliburton delivered the dagger, sinking a falling three-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo with 3.4 seconds left while drawing a foul. The four-point play sealed the Pacers' dramatic victory, sending the Bucks to their third straight loss and tightening the race for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers did not mince words when addressing the defensive breakdown that led to Haliburton's game-winning shot.
"We just lost him," Rivers said postgame, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. "That's on us. I told our staff, ‘We gotta have our guys prepared better for that now.' We were off the bodies. We were in trouble before the play started."
Here is what Bucks coach Doc Rivers had to say about the defense on the play that led to the Haliburton four-point play: https://t.co/i1ksffvgKgpic.twitter.com/1bflP4TEnT
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) March 12, 2025
The defensive lapse stemmed from an unnecessary switch, which left Haliburton wide open with just enough time to get off his shot. Rivers took accountability for the miscommunication, acknowledging the coaching staff's role in the costly mistake.
"There was no reason to switch, and we just did," Rivers explained. "He was open the whole play, and so there was miscommunication there. I always think that's on me and on my staff, not our guys. We'll have to figure it out because that's a play that should never happen."
With the loss, Milwaukee's grip on a top-four seed continues to loosen, raising urgency as the postseason approaches. For the Bucks, cleaning up late-game execution is no longer an option-it's a necessity.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM.