Haliburton’s Cold-Blooded Buzzer-Beater Pushes Pacers to Stunning 2-0 Lead Over Cavs

Indiana Steals Game 2 at the Buzzer

With 1.1 seconds left and the game on the line, Tyrese Haliburton seized the moment. The Pacers’ All-Star guard drilled a step-back three over Ty Jerome, delivering a dramatic 120-119 win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland — and a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“I’m at peace with my game,” Haliburton said. “I have all the confidence in the world to make these shots.”

He wasn’t bluffing. Indiana trailed by 20 in the first half and by seven with under 50 seconds to play. Since 1997, NBA teams were 3-1,643 in those scenarios. The Pacers now own two of those three wins — both in this postseason.

The Final Minute: Chaos and Clutch

Haliburton missed a free throw with 12.1 seconds left, chased down his own rebound, and rose up for the go-ahead shot. His celebration — a nod to Sam Cassell — may draw a fine, but the message was clear: he thrives in the spotlight.

“That boy cold, man,” said Myles Turner. “He wants the ball. A lot of guys shy from that. Not him.”

Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. It was his second playoff game-winner in the final two seconds this postseason, joining LeBron James as the only player to do that in the modern era.

Indiana closed the game on an 8-0 run, holding Cleveland without a shot attempt in the last 50 seconds, forcing two turnovers, and securing two offensive rebounds.

Mitchell’s Heroics Fall Short

Donovan Mitchell poured in 48 points and nine assists, almost single-handedly keeping Cleveland afloat. But the Cavaliers were without three key players:

• Evan Mobley (ankle)
• Darius Garland (toe)
• De’Andre Hunter (thumb)

Despite a 64-win regular season, the Cavs now trail 0-2 — the first 60-win team to do so before the Finals since the 2017 Spurs.

“We can dwell on this and be home in four or five days,” Mitchell said. “Or we can move on. I believe in this locker room.”

Fuel from the Crowd

Haliburton fed off the Cavaliers’ fans, who taunted him with “overrated” chants in the fourth quarter — referencing a recent player poll.

“I didn’t know we had beef,” Haliburton quipped. “But now that label is there… I’ll probably hear it everywhere until the next poll comes out.”

With the series shifting to Indiana, the Pacers hold all the momentum — and a cold-blooded closer in Haliburton.