Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winner had all the makings of a legend: a missed free throw, a self-rebound, a step-back three over Ty Jerome with 1.1 seconds left. The Pacers stole the win, Cleveland’s crowd gasped, and Indiana looked poised to run away with the series.

But slow-motion tells no lies.

After analysts dissected every frame, a new truth emerged—Indiana didn’t steal Game 2… the refs handed it to them. And when the NBA dropped its official review, the fallout didn’t stop in Cleveland.

Even icons like Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes—proud supporters of Indiana—were left celebrating what now feels like a tasteless victory.

The Pacers’ thrilling 120-119 win in Game 2 was a textbook playoff heist—until the NBA came knocking with receipts. In Wednesday’s Last Two Minute Report, the league revealed that Haliburton’s heroics were illegitimate. The report confirmed “multiple players enter the lane and cross the three-point line before the ball is released for the free throw, and the shooter steps over the plane of the free throw line before the ball touches the rim.” That shooter? Haliburton himself. By rule, the bucket should have been waved off, and a jump ball held at midcourt. Instead, his illegal rebound set up the dagger three.

That single sequence changed everything. Instead of Cleveland leading with 12 seconds to go, Indiana walked away with a 2-0 series lead. And it wasn’t just one missed call—it happened twice, once at the 48-second mark and again with 12.4 left. Who knows how the game would’ve turned out if the officials had followed protocol?

Haliburton said postgame, “We just have a resilient group, man. We just figure out ways to win. We don’t give up.”

But that narrative now feels complicated. This wasn’t just about resilience—it was about oversight. And when the NBA publicly confirms that the game-winner shouldn’t have counted, even the most vocal supporters are left trying to make sense of a game that should’ve been different.

Tyrese Haliburton: The Clutch Factor Defining the Pacers-Cavs Series

The dust has settled, and it’s the Pacers who are standing tall. For the Cavs, there’s only one option now: swallow their pride and channel their inner 2016 LeBron if they want to stay alive in this series. After all, with Tyrese Haliburton playing at an elite level, the Pacers look like a team of destiny.

Haliburton has solidified his reputation as one of the NBA’s most clutch performers in the 2024–25 season. In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, when it’s do or die, Haliburton has been a force to be reckoned with. He’s hit 10 out of 11 clutch shots, a staggering 91% success rate. His efficiency in crunch-time moments is a game-changer, and in these high-pressure situations, he’s proven time and again that the Pacers can rely on him.

Despite Donovan Mitchell’s incredible back-to-back performances—33 points in Game 1 and 48 points in Game 2—the Cavs are now facing elimination after a stunning 2-0 series deficit. With a 64-18 regular-season record, they were expected to dominate, but the Pacers have proved too much for them. Adding insult to injury, the Cavs have been without Darius Garland, their secondary playmaking hub. Garland, who suffered a left big toe injury in Game 2 of the first-round sweep over the Heat, has missed the last four playoff games, leaving a massive void in the Cavs’ offense.

Now, the Cavs are facing a tough reality—Mitchell can’t do it alone. As Stephen A. Smith pointed out on First Take, “You’re on the brink of elimination… limp your a– out there.” Without Garland, and with Haliburton playing at his peak, the Cavs must find a way to adjust or risk an early exit from the playoffs. It’s a win-or-go-home moment, and only LeBron-level resilience can pull them back from the edge.