It was Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Pacers and the Cavaliers, and with mere seconds left on the clock, something unforgettable unfolded inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The game seemed all but over — the Pacers trailing, the Cavaliers in control — until Tyrese Haliburton delivered a jaw-dropping sequence that flipped the script entirely. Nobody has seen this coming! A team that was playing a game that looked almost done, and then – boom! The crowd was stunned and left speechless. And somewhere, a former NBA star was left eating his own words as he apologized later after the match. Yes! This one match had all the drama fans live for!

On Wednesday’s episode of Run It Back on FanDuel TV, the usual trio – Michelle Beadle, Lou Williams, and Chandler Parsons dove into what might be the wildest ending we’ve seen this postseason. The trio was actively engaged in discussing the Pacers vs. Cavs Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semis. Michelle started the conversation with a smile, saying, “The fact that Cleveland was up 7 points with under a minute left, I feel like it’s almost déjà vu about this type of ending… crazy awesome game.” She turned to Lou Williams with the big question: “Are you giving credit to Pacers or are you attributing it to the collapse of the Cavs?” That’s when the moment happened! Lou Williams shook his head and said, “First things first, I wanna apologise to Indiana.”

Wait what? This was the same Lou Williams who once dismissed the Indiana Pacers as “boring and play boring basketball.” Now? He had a completely different tune. “I’m a man, and I was wrong. Y’all aren’t a boring basketball team, and I am wrong,” he admitted. But Lou Williams didn’t stop there. “I’m giving credit to Indiana! In order for a team to choke, you need to give the game away…..I feel like Indiana took this game.” And he was spot on. Down by 7 points with under a minute to play, the Pacers didn’t wait for Cleveland to make mistakes; they forced them. Then, with the clock ticking down and the score at 119-117 in favor of the Cavs, Tyrese Haliburton pulled up for a three… bang! With just 1.1 seconds left, the Pacers led 120-119.

Lou Williams highlighted what made the difference. “They took 36 points in the fourth quarter, that’s just an aggressive basketball team,” he said, nodding in approval. “They taught the league something… You don’t have to shoot threes all game to come back.” He pointed out the effort plays – diving for loose balls, contesting every shot, and pushing hard to the rim. “Kudos to them for doing that,” he added, before ending with, “This wasn’t a choke job, this was a team that wanted it more.”

With this clutch win on the road, the Pacers now have two games in the bag in the conference semifinals. It’s not just the win, it’s the way they won. They played like they had something to prove, and Tyrese Haliburton was the heartbeat of that energy. From being doubted to hitting the shot of the series, it felt like a turning point not just in the game, but maybe in how the league sees Tyrese Haliburton.

From “Overrated” to hero: Tyrese Haliburton’s redemption arc

It was not too long ago that Tyrese Haliburton was deemed the most overrated player in the NBA, according to a Bleacher Report poll. Fans and pundits wondered whether he possessed the star’s ability to drive his team deep into the postseason. Well, how about making a comeback like that on the road? That last three-pointer? That was the sound of a turntable!

Tyrese Haliburton ended the game with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists…the guy was everywhere. But more than the stats, it was his poise at the last minute that shone like the sun. He did not panic, he did not try to force the shot, and at the last seconds when the team needed a bucket most, he came through. That’s what stars do, and Haliburton showed he’s one of them.

This Indiana team has now won two in a row from the Cavs and is now the most entertaining team to watch in the semis. They play quickly and control the pace of the game while playing with passion. That boring label? Forget about it! Lou Williams put it best: “They made play after play… This was a team that wanted it more.”

So now the question is turned around – can Indiana make it all the way? If they continue, why not? They have a new leader in Haliburton, who’s as hard-working as the team on every perch, and the league has been paying attention. Their newfound steam is perfectly timed as the stakes are getting higher with each game.