Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton could face fine after lewd celebration following clutch 3-pointer
But how he celebrated may result in a fine from the league – he's perfectly fine if it happens, too.
Haliburton stunned Cleveland on their home court, getting the rebound on his own missed free throw and proceeding to bury a stepback 3-pointer at the top of the key with one second left to beat the Cavs, 120-119.
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During the main TNT broadcast, Haliburton's celebration was off frame. A replay showed exactly how he celebrated, and he used the infamous "big-b---- dance," which was made famous in "Major League II" and brought to the league by former NBA guard Sam Cassell.
In the league's eyes, though, fines have been dished out for those replicating it in the past.
After the game, Haliburton said it was one he was "waiting" to use, and will take whatever fine may come.
"It was just right in the moment," he told reporters.
"I'll take that fine gladly."
TYRESE HALIBURTON MAKES LAST-SECOND 3 TO COMPLETE PACERS' WILD COMEBACK, TAKE SURPRISING 2-0 LEAD OVER CAVS
Haliburton's response shows that he knew the risk of the celebration well before using it, which is why he's had it in the holster for the right moment.
Haliburton has had quite the NBA Playoffs run already, especially when it comes to clutch shots in crunch time.
In the Pacers' first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, he drove past Giannis Antetokounmpo and made a layup just before time expired to close out the series in five games.
Now, on the road, the Pacers have taken down the top-seeded Cavs twice, and Haliburton's 22 points in Game 1 helped Indiana's case before his heroics in Game 2.
If the playoffs didn't add enough motivation to perform, Haliburton has also been drawing some from an NBA players poll, which had him as the most common answer for most overrated player in the league.
He said, "Overrate that," when he ended the Bucks' chances at lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"That one was unexpected," Haliburton said in that series when asked about the overrated chants he was hearing. "I didn't know we had beef. I think now that that label is there, it's going to be that every time we play somebody on the road. It'll probably follow me until the next poll comes out. Overrate that."
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The series heads to Indianapolis now, where the Pacers have a comfortable 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven bout with Cleveland.
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Maybe we could let an actual season unfold before passing judgment. 2024-25 record: 36-46; did not make playoffs Added: G Jalen Green (acquired from Rockets); F Dillon Brooks (acquired from Rockets); C Mark Williams (acquired from Hornets); F Nigel Hayes-Davis (one year, $2M); G Jordan Goodwin (claimed off waivers); C Khaman Maluach (draft rights acquired from Rockets); F/C Rasheer Fleming (draft rights acquired from Timberwolves); G Koby Brea (draft rights acquired from Warriors; two-way); F Isaiah Livers (two-way); F CJ Huntley (two-way); G Jared Butler (Exhibit 9); 2029 second-round pick (acquired from Hornets); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Rockets); hired general manager Brian Gregory; hired coach Jordan Ott Lost: F Kevin Durant (traded to Rockets); G Bradley Beal (buyout via stretch provision); F David Roddy (traded to Hawks); G Tyus Jones (signed with Magic); C Mason Plumlee (signed with Hornets); G Vasilije Micić (traded to Hornets); F Cody Martin (waived); F Daeqwon Plowden (waived); F Liam McNeeley (draft rights traded to Charlotte); F Alex Toohey (draft rights traded to Warriors); 2029 first-round pick (traded to Hornets); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Timberwolves); 2032 second-round pick (traded to Timberwolves); 2025 second-round pick (traded to Warriors); fired coach Mike Budenholzer. Advertisement Retained: G Collin Gillespie (one year, $2.05M) Extended: G Devin Booker (two years, $133.2M) Returning from injury: None The skinny: Gregory — a Sparty guy, naturally — didn't do a bad job out of the gate as the new GM. The Suns aren't 'good' in the sense that they're now a contender, but they should at least be competitive most nights for Ott. The return for Durant was fair, considering Phoenix had very little leverage, and stretching Beal gets the Suns out of apron hell. They were nimble in moving up to get Fleming, who had first-round grades from lots of teams. Green, Fleming, Williams and Maluach are good beginnings for whatever comes next in the Valley to surround Booker through the rest of his prime, a welcome departure from the three superstars approach. 2024-25 record: 50-32; lost in Western Conference first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1 Added: C Deandre Ayton (two years, $16.6M); G Marcus Smart (two years, $10.5M); F Jake LaRavia (two years, $12M); F Adou Thiero (draft rights acquired from Nets); G Chris Mañon (two-way); G Augustas Marčiulionis (Exhibit 10); G RJ Davis (Exhibit 10); F/C Eric Dixon (Exhibit 10); F Arthur Kaluma (Exhibit 10); controlling interest in franchise sold to Mark Walter Lost: F Dorian Finney-Smith (signed with Rockets); G Jordan Goodwin (waived); G Shake Milton (waived); C Trey Jemison III (waived); Lachlan Olbrich (draft rights traded to Bulls) Retained: F LeBron James (exercised player option for 2025-26); C Jaxson Hayes (one year, $3.45M); C Christian Kokolo (two-way) Extended: F Luka Dončić (three years, $160.8M) Returning from injury: James (left MCL sprain); Austin Reaves (left toe sprain) The skinny: The Buss Family, God love 'em, ran the Lakers like a business, not a plaything/tax write-off. Walter's largesse won't be as industry-jarring in the NBA as it is in Major League Baseball, but if Walter's spending on the Dodgers is any guide, the Lakers will get closer to the industry standard off the court under the new ownership. We'll see if Ayton can still be a major difference maker after flaming out in Phoenix and Portland. Similarly, Smart isn't what he was in Boston, but many advanced stats show he's still one of the better defensive guards in the league – and he's better defensively than anyone else L.A. can roll out. Losing DFS, though, is a blow. Advertisement 2024-25 record: 37-45; lost in Eastern Conference first round to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-0 Added: F Norman Powell (acquired from Clippers); G Dru Smith (three years, $7.9M) G Kasparas Jakučionis (first round, 20th pick); F Simone Fontecchio (acquired from Pistons); C Vladislav Goldin (two-way); F Myron Gardner (two-way); G Steve Settle III (Exhibit 10); Ethan Thompson (Exhibit 10); 2027 second-round pick (acquired from Clippers) Lost: G Duncan Robinson (to Pistons via sign-and-trade); F Kevin Love (traded to Jazz); F Kyle Anderson (traded to Jazz); F Haywood Highsmith (traded to Nets); 2032 second-round pick (traded to Nets) Retained: G Davion Mitchell (two years, $24M); F Keshad Johnson (picked up $1.9M team option for 2025-26) Extended: None Returning from injury: G Terry Rozier (left ankle sprain) The skinny: Powell is a solid, slightly under-the-radar vet pickup who'll fit right in at a relatively low cost, now ($20.4 million) and in the near future. The Heat had to do something; Miami couldn't run it back with the previous core that finished eight games below .500 and got swept by Cleveland in the first round. Jakučionis fell to 20 for some reason, and he'll contribute right away. So should Fontecchio. But Miami doesn't have many more assets left to try and take the kind of huge offseason swings we've associated with Pat Riley's stewardship. 2024-25 record: 26-56; did not make playoffs Added: F Michael Porter, Jr. (acquired from Nuggets); G Terance Mann (acquired from Hawks); F Haywood Highsmith (acquired from Heat); G Ricky Council IV (one year); G Egor Demin (first round, eighth pick); G Nolan Traoré (first round, 19th pick); G Ben Saraf (first round, 26th pick); F Danny Wolf (first round, 27th pick); F Drake Powell (draft rights acquired from Atlanta); G Tyson Etienne (two-way); F/C Grant Nelson (Exhibit 10); 2032 first-round pick (acquired from Nuggets); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Suns); 2030 second-round pick (acquired from Suns); 2032 second-round pick (acquired from Heat) Advertisement Lost: F Cam Johnson (traded to Nuggets); F Trendon Watford (signed with 76ers); F Kendall Brown (waived); F Adou Theiro (draft rights traded to Lakers); Maxwell Lewis (waived) Retained: C Day'Ron Sharpe (two years, $12M); F Ziaire Williams (two years, $12M); G Keon Johnson (picked up $2.35M team option for 2025-26); F Jalen Wilson (picked up $2.2M team option for 2025-26); G/F Tyrese Martin (picked up $2.2M team option for 2025-26); F Drew Timme (picked up $1.96M team option for 2025-26); (G Tosan Evbuomwan (two-way) Extended: None Returning from injury: F Noah Clowney (right ankle sprain), Porter Jr. (shoulder sprain) The skinny: Someone has to score on bad teams, so Porter Jr. will have the green light from jump while he's at Barclays Center. It feels like the Nets sold a little low on Johnson, though I get speculating on that '32 first becoming a golden ticket. And while each of the five players Brooklyn got in the draft have solid skills, particularly Demin and Saraf, there's no way the Nets planned to use all of their '25 firsts. I'm pretty sure they hoped to use them to move up into the top five and get a real difference-maker who could accelerate the rebuild. That was a missed opportunity. Another tank season looms, with the stakes now even higher to get a top-four pick in 2026. 2024-25 record: 44-38; lost in Eastern Conference first round to the New York Knicks, 4-2 Added: G Caris LeVert (two years, $28.9M); G Duncan Robinson (three years, $48M via sign and trade with Heat); F Javonte Green (one year, $2.87M); G Colby Jones (two-way); Chaz Lanier (second round, 37th pick); F Dawson Garcia (Exhibit 10); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Kings) Lost: G Dennis Schröder (signed with Kings); G Tim Hardaway, Jr. (signed with Nuggets); F Simone Fontecchio (traded to Miami); G Ron Harper Jr. (waived); 2029 second-round pick (traded to Kings) Advertisement Retained: C Paul Reed (two years, $10.9M); G Daniss Jenkins (two-way); F Tolu Smith III (two-way) Extended: None Returning from injury: G Jaden Ivey (broken left fibula); F Isaiah Stewart (right knee inflammation) The skinny: Detroit did OK, considering the circumstances. But the likelihood of losing Malik Beasley off a sensational season (16.3 points per game off the bench on 42 percent from 3) to a gambling investigation was a big blow. He was a big part of the Pistons' resurgence last season. So, too, was losing Schröder, who was excellent in Detroit. LeVert and Robinson plug right into those spots, though, with Ivey returning as well, so Cade Cunningham will still have targets to whom he can spray the ball. Lanier's shooting prowess can get him into the rotation quickly, too. Stewart, and his physicality, returns after missing most of Detroit's first-round series against the Knicks. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Adam Pantozzi / NBAE, Alex Slitz, Harry How / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
