The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks had a very entertaining finish on Tuesday in game five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Series. The Pacers were victorious 119-118 in overtime, and in the process won the best out of seven series four games to one.
With 35 seconds left in the five minute overtime period, it seemed that the Bucks had forced a game six. That is because they had a commanding 118-111 lead.
Then the miraculous started to happen. With 34 seconds left, Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ontario made a three-pointer from 33 feet to pull the Pacers within four points, 118-114 Milwaukee. Bucks shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. then committed a turnover via a poor pass, and the basketball was stolen by Nembhard. This led to a Tyrese Haliburton lay-up to pull the Pacers within a single basket at 118-116 Milwaukee. Haliburton was also fouled on the play and made a free throw to put the Pacers to within a single point, at 118-117 Milwaukee.
The Bucks still had the lead with 17 seconds left. It should have been no time for the Bucks to panic as they were up by one with the ball. However, for the second straight time, there was a Trent Jr. error. This time he went out of bounds with the throw-in attempt, and gave the basketball right back to the Pacers. Haliburton delivered with a four foot lay-up with one second left. Trent Jr. had one Hail Mary attempt from 62 feet but came up wide. The Bucks clearly missed the leadership of Damian Lillard, who was out with a torn Achilles, and the Pacers advanced as a result.
