Haliburton's 3 with 1.1 seconds left gives Pacers 120-119 stunning win over Cavs and 2-0 series lead

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton said he knows he's trusted to deliver in big moments.

In three straight playoff games, the Indiana Pacers guard has delivered when it has mattered most.

Haliburton made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining as the Pacers scored the final eight points in 47.9 seconds to stun the short-handed and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the final 12 minutes. After Andrew Nembhard stole an inbounds pass by Cleveland's Max Strus with 27.5 seconds remaining, Indiana tried to find a potential tying 3-pointer before Haliburton drove inside and got fouled.

He made the first free throw, but missed the second. Haliburton got the offensive rebound and dribbled out to the 3-point line, where he made it from the top of the key.

“I was (ticked) I missed the layup because I couldn’t hang onto the ball, so I backed it out. I just saw Ty Jerome, top of the key and knocked it down," Haliburton said. “It’s the NBA, crazier things have happened. That’s just what basketball is. We don’t give up and we’re battle tested. We just find a way.”

After making a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Pacers eliminate the Milwaukee Bucks, Haliburton has continued to hit key shots against the Cavaliers.

He scored 22 points in Sunday's 121-112 victory in the series opener, including a go-ahead 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.

“Obviously, we got lucky. Ty hit another amazing shot to win the game," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "You don’t see this very often, let alone twice in one week. Tyrese, he came through again. We’re very fortunate.”

Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith led No. 4 seed Indiana with 23 points apiece. It's the first time the Pacers have won the first two games of a playoff series on the road since a 1994 first-round set against Orlando.

Game 3 is Friday night in Indianapolis.

Donovan Mitchell scored 48 points for Cleveland, who were missing three key players, including two starters. NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (left ankle) and key reserve De’Andre Hunter (right thumb) were injured in Game 1, while Darius Garland (left big toe) missed his fourth straight postseason game.

“I feel like we outplayed them for the majority of the game and then towards the end we had our mental lapses. They capitalized on every single mistake that we made,” said Jarrett Allen, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Mitchell scored 15 points in the third quarter as the Cavaliers built a 98-81 lead late in the period. But the Pacers rallied with a 17-6 run to get back in it.

Cleveland looked as though it got some breathing room with 1:06 remaining when Max Strus hit a 3-pointer off an assist by Mitchell to put them up 117-110.

But the Cavs couldn't hold on again as they committed two turnovers and the Pacers had a pair of offensive rebounds that led to points in the final minute. It's the first time Cleveland dropped its first two at home in the playoffs since 1996 in the first round against the Knicks.

“It’s hard to put all this in words," Carlisle said. "Cleveland hit us with a hellacious punch early in the game. In the fourth, we just hung on. We maintained enough energy to get it done. Give the guys credit, they somehow found a way.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and center Myles Turner, right, celebrate after the Pacers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the first half during Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dunks in front of Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33), forward Aaron Nesmith (23), guard Andrew Nembhard (2) and forward Pascal Siakam, right, in the first half during Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, falls after being fouled by Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, right, in the first half during Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, left, shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. defends in the first half during Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the first half during Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Tampa Bay (7-8) at Miami (6-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FOX

BetMGM NFL odds: Buccaneers by 5 1/2

Against the spread: Buccaneers 5-10; Dolphins 7-8.

Series record: Buccaneers lead 7-5.

Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Dolphins 45-17 on Oct. 10, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.

Last week: Buccaneers lost to Panthers 23-20; Dolphins lost to Bengals 45-21.

Buccaneers offense: overall (23), rush (20), pass (22), scoring (18).

Buccaneers defense: overall (22), rush (7), pass (27), scoring (24).

Dolphins offense: overall (24), rush (13), pass (25), scoring (22).

Dolphins defense: overall (19), rush (26), pass (14t), scoring (22).

Turnover differential: Buccaneers plus-8; Dolphins minus-5.

WR Mike Evans. He has 11 catches for 163 yards and one TD in two games since returning from a broken clavicle. The six-time Pro Bowl wideout's streak of 1,000 yards receiving is going to end at 11 because of injuries that limited him to just six games this season.

QB Quinn Ewers. The rookie is set to make the second start of his career after throwing for 260 yards with two interceptions last week against Cincinnati. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was impressed by Ewers' composure in his first start, even when the team unraveled in the second half, which McDaniel said earned the quarterback another start.

Tampa Bay's receivers vs Dolphins secondary. Miami's defensive backs had trouble covering Cincinnati receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins last week, allowing them to combine for 12 catches, 162 yards and a touchdown. Miami will go against another pair of elite receivers in Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka. When Tampa Bay and Miami last met, Evans caught six passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Buccaneers: Pro Bowl LT Tristan Wirfs (toe) and OLB Anthony Nelson (knee) missed practice time this week.

Dolphins: C Aaron Brewer (neck), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) and LB Tyrel Dodson (chest) missed practice time this week. ... DT Benito Jones (back) and TE Darren Waller (groin) were limited.

Sunday's matchup will be the Bucs' first time playing the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium since 2017. ... They have never met in the postseason.

The Buccaneers have played in seven games decided by three or fewer points this season, tied with the 1979 team for most in a single season in franchise history. They're 5-2 in those games with two straight losses. ... QB Baker Mayfield has thrown six interceptions in the past six games after only two in the first nine. ... WR Emeka Egbuka needs 90 yards to become the third rookie in club history to reach 1,000, joining Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004) and Mike Evans (1,051 in 2014). ... RB Sean Tucker leads the team with seven rushing TDs on 80 carries. ... LB Lavonte David last week became the seventh player to reach 1,700 tackles. ... K Chase McLaughlin has made 16 straight field goals and is 11-for-11 from 50 yards or longer, a record for most kicks from that distance without a miss in a single season. ... With their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, the Dolphins are ensured a losing season for the second straight year after finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs in 2024. ... The Dolphins have been outscored 42-19 the past two weeks. ... RB De'Von Achane was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after a standout third season in which he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the first time. Achane is the first Dolphins player to total 2,000 rushing yards along with 1,000 yards receiving in his first three NFL seasons. He also is the fifth Dolphin to reach 2,000 rushing yards in his first three years in the NFL. ... WR Jaylen Waddle needs 90 yards in the final two games of the season to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth time in his five-year career. ... Ewers became the ninth rookie in Dolphins history to start a game at quarterback, joining Skylar Thompson (2022), Tua Tagovailoa (2020), Ryan Tannehill (2012), John Beck (2007), Dan Marino (1983), David Woodley (1980), Bob Griese (1967) and Rick Norton (1966). His 260 passing yards were the second most by a Dolphins rookie quarterback in their first career start behind Dan Marino, who had 322 in his first start against Buffalo in 1983.

Evans and Egbuka could be in for big games against Miami's defense, which has struggled to slow down dynamic receivers and has been inconsistent this season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers looks to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)