Haliburton and Tatum shine as Pacers and Celtics advance to Eastern Conference semifinals in the NBA Playoffs.

The intensity of the NBA Playoffs reached new heights Tuesday with the closing moments of two Eastern Conference series. The Indiana Pacers, led by an unstoppable Tyrese Haliburton , eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in an electrifying overtime duel, while the Boston Celtics crushed the Orlando Magic with a display of collective strength and leadership from Jayson Tatum. Both teams are now awaiting their opponents in the Eastern Conference Semifinals .

At Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Tyrese Haliburton dressed as a hero to seal one of the most memorable victories in recent Pacers history. With an acrobatic layup with 1.3 seconds left in overtime, Haliburton sealed a 119-118 victory over the Bucks , allowing them to close out the series with a resounding 4-1 lead.

“We refused to lose at home. We knew they were a championship team, but we weren't going to give up,” Haliburton said after the game, where he had 26 points and 10 assists. Indiana forced two key turnovers in the final 17 seconds of overtime and finished the game on an 8-0 run, stunning Milwaukee , who were eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive year.

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The game, tense from the opening tip, ended with an altercation between the two teams at midcourt, reflecting the physical friction and passion with which this series was played. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who returned to action after physical discomfort, was overpowered in the crucial moment by the young Indiana point guard, who remains undefeated in home playoff games (9-0).

THE DEFENDING CHAMPION ADVANCES

In Boston , the story was different but just as compelling. The reigning NBA champion Celtics left no doubt about their ambition to repeat as champions. Jayson Tatum had a masterful night with 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 120-89 win over the Magic , also closing out the series at 4-1.

The game's turning point came in the third quarter when Orlando star Paolo Banchero received his fifth personal foul and was sent to the bench. Without their leader, the Magic fell apart. Boston capitalized with a 31-9 run, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White also shining. Curiously, the Celtics , the most prolific three-point shooting team in NBA history, didn't make a single one in the first half, something that hadn't happened since 2020.

PISTONS STILL ALIVE IN THE PLAYOFFS

Cade Cunningham had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Pistons beat the Knicks 106-103 to stay alive in the series, which now leads 3-2 in favor of New York . Ausar Thompson added 22 points and Tobias Harris 17 for Detroit , who will look to tie the series at home on Thursday. Despite a losing home record, the Pistons have performed better on the road. OG Anunoby added 19 points for the Knicks , while Jalen Brunson had a mediocre night with just 16 points and a low shooting percentage (4/16).

With the Pacers and Celtics already qualified, the East awaits the series between the Knicks and Pistons . If Detroit manages to tie the series at home, the series will move to New York in a decisive Game 7.

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