Rick Carlisle: ‘Tyrese Has An Iron Will … This Will Go Down As One Of The All-Time Pacers Wins’

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle didn’t hold back when asked about Tyrese Haliburton’s late-game heroics.

“When it comes to belief in himself, Tyrese has an iron will,” Carlisle told reporters, via Tony East of Locked on Pacers. “He works extremely hard on what he does, he works hard on his craft, his skill… he reminds me a lot of (Reggie Miller). This will go down as one of the all-time Pacers wins.”

Indiana’s 119–118 overtime stunner over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 wasn’t just improbable — it was borderline impossible. The Pacers trailed by nine early in OT and had trouble containing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr., but they kept coming, led by Haliburton’s fearless drives and a cold-blooded triple from Andrew Nembhard.

The final blow came after Trent mishandled a pass with just over 10 seconds left, giving the Pacers new life. Haliburton took care of the rest, slicing into the paint for a game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds remaining.

Haliburton finished with 26 points and nine assists, including several clutch buckets late despite an off night from deep. Myles Turner added 21 and nine rebounds.

Milwaukee, playing again without the injured Damian Lillard, was led by Antetokounmpo’s 30 points and 20 rebounds. Trent added 33 in a breakout performance — but his turnover in the closing moments loomed largest.

The loss marks the third straight early-round exit for the Bucks since their 2021 title run, and with Antetokounmpo’s long-term future uncertain, questions abound.

The Pacers? They’re moving on — somehow, someway. Next up: the top-seeded Cavaliers in Round 2, starting this weekend in Cleveland.