Pacers Eliminate Bucks in OT Thriller, Ending Milwaukee's Playoff Run

INDIANAPOLIS (Day.News) — Tyrese Haliburton blew past Giannis Antetokounmpo for a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime, sealing a 119-118 victory for the Indiana Pacers over the Milwaukee Bucks and completing a 4-1 series win in the NBA playoffs' first round.[2][1] The Pacers erased a 20-point deficit with an 8-0 run in the final 40 seconds, forcing two turnovers in the last 17 seconds to eliminate Milwaukee for the second consecutive postseason.[6][5] Haliburton finished with 26 points and 10 assists, now 9-0 in home playoff games, while advancing Indiana to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.[2][1] Milwaukee, playing without injured star Damian Lillard, mounted comebacks throughout the series but couldn't overcome Indiana's clutch play. Antetokounmpo, the Bucks' two-time MVP and Wisconsin's hoops icon, battled fiercely but watched helplessly as Haliburton drove past him for the dagger.[2] The loss echoes last year's first-round exit to the Pacers, prompting questions about the Bucks' roster depth and coaching under Doc Rivers amid high expectations in beer city.[1] At Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee's faithful had packed houses for home games, but the road finale in Indianapolis crushed hopes of a deep playoff run for the team that calls Cream City home. With the 2025-26 season ending early, general manager Jon Horst faces pressure to bolster the lineup around Antetokounmpo ahead of next fall's tipoff. Indiana's upset sets up a marquee matchup in Cleveland, while Wisconsin basketball turns to offseason modes like Bucks draft prep and summer league buzz.[4]