In a thrilling overtime finish, Indiana Pacers secured a 119-118 victory over Milwaukee Bucks, clinching their series 4-1. Tyrese Haliburton’s decisive layup with 1.3 seconds left sealed the win.
The Pacers ended the game with an 8-0 run in the last 40 seconds of overtime, eliminating the Bucks in the first round for the second consecutive year.
Indiana’s defense was pivotal in the closing moments, forcing two crucial turnovers in the final 17 seconds. Gary Trent Jr.’s inbound pass was intercepted by Andrew Nembhard Jr., leading to Haliburton’s three-point play. Later, under pressure, Trent lost control of a pass, giving Indiana possession with just 10.8 seconds remaining.
Haliburton excelled with 26 points and 10 assists, maintaining his perfect home playoff record at 9-0. Myles Turner contributed significantly with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Aaron Nesmith added a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. Nembhard also played a key role, scoring a three-pointer to initiate Indiana’s final run and finishing with 15 points.
The Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals after defeating Orlando Magic 120-89 in Game 5. Jayson Tatum led Boston with an impressive performance, scoring 35 points along with ten assists and eight rebounds. The Celtics will face either New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons next.
Boston struggled initially, failing to make a three-pointer in the first half for the first time in nearly four years. However, they turned things around after Magic’s Paolo Banchero accumulated five fouls and had to sit out most of the third quarter. During this period, Boston surged ahead with a dominant scoring run.
Nuggets Edge Clippers With Murray’s Stellar Play
Jamal Murray’s outstanding performance propelled Denver Nuggets to a 131-115 victory over Los Angeles Clippers, giving them a 3-2 series lead. Murray scored an impressive 43 points while Russell Westbrook added 21 points on his return from injury. Nikola Jokic recorded his 21st career playoff triple-double.
The Nuggets built a substantial lead early in the fourth quarter but had to fend off another late rally by the Clippers. Denver responded with an effective run led by Murray and Aaron Gordon to secure their win. The series continues Thursday night at Intuit Dome.
Pistons Stay Alive Against Knicks
Detroit Pistons kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating New York Knicks 106-103 in Game 5 of their series. Cade Cunningham was instrumental for Detroit, contributing 24 points along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Ausar Thompson added valuable support with his own scoring efforts.
The game remained tightly contested until late baskets from Jalen Duren and Cunningham gave Detroit a six-point lead. Despite New York’s attempts to close the gap, including OG Anunoby’s late three-pointer, Cunningham’s free throws secured Detroit’s victory margin.