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Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton Pays Geno Smith Perfect Homage Afer Eliminating Milwaukee Bucks

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 5/3/24

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers finally completed an upset in the first round of the playoffs Thursday night when they retired the Milwaukee Bucks from NBA title contention with a series-clinching 120-98 victory at home.

It was a sweet feeling for Haliburton and the Pacers. Although the Bucks missed Giannis Antetokounmpo in the series and Damian Lillard in a couple of games, nothing should be taken away from the fantastic job Indiana did in order to pull off a No. 6 vs No. 3 upset in the postseason.

After the game, Haliburton was also asked about his thoughts on the Pacers winning a playoff series two years after the Sacramento Kings decided they were going to be better if they traded him to Indiana.

“It’s amazing it’s amazing. I mean, I just love being here and love being with the Pacers. Everybody here is amazing to me. You know we’re not done yet. What Geno [Smith] say? You know they wrote me off, I ain’t writing back.”

If that quote sounds familiar, it’s because, as Haliburton said, it is from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Back in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, Smith led the Seahawks to an upset victory over the then-Russell Wilson-led Denver Broncos.

Haliburton on what it means to advance and be a Pacer: "It's everything man. … It's amazing. I just love being here. I love being with the Pacers. Everybody here is amazing to me. We're not done yet." pic.twitter.com/K7ZPShS97C

— Bally Sports Indiana (@BallySportsIN) May 3, 2024

The Indiana Pacers Dash Dreams of Milwaukee Bucks

Even when it was known that the Bucks would be unlikely to have Giannis Antetokounmpo play in the first round of the playoffs because of a lower-body injury, they were still regarded as the favorites to win the series against the Pacers. But Indiana flipped the script and defied the odds, needing just six games to oust the Bucks.

Haliburton averaged just 16.0 points on 43.5 percent shooting from the field in the Bucks series but he also dished out 9.3 assists and collected 5.8 rebounds through six games. He will have to be better in the next round, though, against the formidable New York Knicks side in Eastern Conference semis.