In a game forcing fans to the edge of their seats until the final buzzer, the Indiana Pacers narrowly beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-114 on March 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
The contest, which featured 21 lead changes and 22 ties, came down to a dramatic finish, with Tyrese Haliburton redeeming an otherwise quiet night by hitting a game-winning 4-point play in the closing seconds.
“I have fun competing. You guys know the history between us and that team, so it feels good to get a win,” Haliburton said.
Reved up and close
The game was a back-and-forth battle from the opening jump. The Pacers started strong, jumping out to an early lead of 32-28 after the first quarter. This success was largely due to Pascal Siakam’s impressive performance, scoring nine points in the quarter.
The Bucks (36-28), however, responded with a balanced attack led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Taurean Prince, combining for 15 points in the first half.
By halftime, the Pacers held a slim 57-55 lead, but neither team could pull away.
The third quarter saw more of the same, with both teams trading blows and the lead changing hands numerous times. Bucks’ Damian Lillard, who was relatively quiet in the first half, began to find his rhythm, scoring 11 points in the quarter.
Damian Lillard against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard during the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers on March 11, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
However, a rare moment of vulnerability from Lillard occurred late in the third quarter. As he stepped to the free-throw line, a fan in the crowd yelled, “You can’t shoot free throws every time. That’s crazy!”
The comment seemed to rattle the usually unflappable Lillard, who missed the free throw, a rare occurrence for the 92% free-throw shooter, good enough for second in the league this season, only behind the Warriors’ Stephen Curry’s 93%.
The Bucks still managed to tie the game at 88-88 heading into the final quarter, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
The final frame
The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and their fans. The Pacers took control early in the frame, going on a 10-0 run to take a 103-93 lead with over seven minutes remaining.
Myles Turner and Siakam were instrumental during the stretch, with Turner scoring six points and Siakam adding four.
But the Bucks, led by Brook Lopez and Antetokounmpo, refused to lie down in defeat. Lopez, finishing with 23 points, hit a paramount 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 103-100 with just over five minutes left.
The Bucks continued to chip away, and with 1:07 remaining, Gary Trent Jr. hit a clutch 3-pointer to give Milwaukee a 112-110 lead.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse fell silent as fans buried their faces into their hands, bracing for a potential loss.
The Pacers had other plans.
Tyrese Haliburton versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks, on March 11, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
After a travel call on Haliburton led to a costly, late-gate turnover, the Bucks had a chance to seal the victory.
Andrew Nembhard missed two pivotal 3-point attempts, leaving the Pacers’ faithful groaning in disbelief. With the game seemingly slipping away, Haliburton stepped up in a big way.
On the ensuing possession, Haliburton received an inbound pass from Nembhard, drained a contested 3-pointer and drew a foul from Antetokumpo on the play.
Pacers legend and Hall of Fame three-point shooter Reggie Miller was in the building, witnessing Haliburton’s shot only a few feet away.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle referenced the moment following the game, noting that Miller’s presence probably rubbed off “a little bit of good fortune” for the team.
Haliburton calmly sank the free throw, completing the 4-point play and giving the Pacers a 115-114 lead with only 3.6 seconds remaining. Antetokumpo could not get the running three-pointer to fall, ultimately closing the door for the last time on the Bucks.
Haliburton’s redemption
Haliburton, who had struggled for much of the contest, finished with 14 points, ten assists and three rebounds. While his stat line wasn’t eye-popping, his clutch performance in the final sequence was the difference-maker.
“I wasn’t having my best game, but my teammates kept believing in me,” Haliburton said.
For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo led the way with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists, while Lopez added 23 points and seven rebounds. Lillard contributed 15 points and 11 assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Indiana Pacer game.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers, on March 11, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
Following the game, Antetokounmpo gave Haliburton his flowers for making such a tough shot.
“It was a foul, as we saw on the replay,” Antetokounmpo said. “Defensively, there was nothing more I could do. He made an incredible shot, and you have to give him credit.”
The win holds the Pacers at the No. 5 seed while the Bucks still hold the No. 4 seed.
If the playoffs began today, the two teams would meet in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the exact matchup from last year’s opening round of the postseason.
“What a game, they don’t get much closer than that,” Carlisle said postgame. “Regular season or playoffs. An amazing sequence of events. What a shot and what a play at the end. The shot that Tyrese hit is one they are going to be talking about for many years.”
If the Bucks want revenge, they will have to wait until March 15, when the Pacers visit them in Milwaukee.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more sports from the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Senior Sports Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Noral Parham III.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.