It was a dramatic night in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday as the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics punched their tickets to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, while the Detroit Pistons shocked the New York Knicks to extend their postseason run. In the West, Jamal Murray lit up the scoreboard to push the Denver Nuggets to the brink of the second round.
Haliburton Leads Pacers to Miraculous Comeback Over Bucks
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers authored one of the most dramatic playoff comebacks in recent memory, erasing a 20-point deficit and storming back in overtime to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 119-118 and clinch their series 4-1.
Down 118-111 with under 40 seconds left in OT, it looked like Game 6 in Milwaukee was inevitable. But Indiana had other plans. A quick 8-0 run, capped by Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch driving layup with 1.3 seconds remaining, sealed the deal and sent the home crowd into wild celebration.
The win sets up a mouthwatering Eastern Conference semi-final matchup between the Pacers and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Both teams literally left every single ounce of everything they had out there,” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “Fortune favours the bold – and our guys were bold.”
Haliburton starred with 26 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, while Myles Turner added 21 points and Aaron Nesmith contributed a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
HALIBURTON LAYUP FOR THE GAME AND THE SERIES!!!
PACERS MOVING ON. pic.twitter.com/K5KkvAFaot
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
The Bucks were once again without Damian Lillard, who is out for the rest of the playoffs with a torn Achilles. Gary Trent Jr. dropped 33 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30, but late-game execution – or the lack of it – proved costly.
“Execution down the stretch is something you have to have,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “We failed in that department tonight.”
With their wins today, the @celtics and the @pacers have ADVANCED to the Eastern Conference Semifinals! #NBAPlayoffs #DontMissAThing pic.twitter.com/gJQ4NavmZw
— NBA India (@NBAIndia) April 30, 2025
Celtics Blow Past Magic to Secure Second-Round Spot
In Boston, the defending champion Celtics took care of business in emphatic fashion, dominating the Orlando Magic 120-89 in Game 5 to seal a 4-1 series win.
After a sluggish first half that saw them trail by two at the break, the Celtics exploded with a 35-9 run in the third quarter, turning the game into a rout. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 35 points, while Jaylen Brown poured in 23.
“We didn’t like the way we played in the first half,” Tatum admitted. “But we’re champions. We can win in multiple ways.”
Boston now await the winner of the ongoing Knicks vs. Pistons series for their Eastern Conference semi-final showdown.
Pistons Stay Alive With Nail-Biting Win Over Knicks
The Detroit Pistons, down 3-1 in their series and facing elimination at Madison Square Garden, kept their season alive with a gritty 106-103 win over the New York Knicks.
Led by Cade Cunningham’s 24 points and Ausar Thompson’s 22, the Pistons held off a furious late rally from the Knicks, who had closed the gap to a single point in the final seconds.
It was a game of swings, featuring 18 lead changes, and one where every possession mattered. But Detroit’s resilience was rewarded, and they’ll return home for a massive Game 6 as they look to push the series to the limit.
Murray’s Masterclass Propels Nuggets to 3-2 Lead
Over in Denver, Jamal Murray delivered an offensive clinic, scoring 43 points – including eight three-pointers – to guide the Nuggets past the Los Angeles Clippers in a 131-115 win.
The Nuggets now lead the series 3-2 and are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals.
Murray, who now has six 40-point playoff games in his career, was unstoppable from the first whistle. His performance was backed up by strong outings from Nikola Jokić, who added 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr., who chipped in 18.
“When Jamal gets going like that, we feed off him,” Jokić said post-game. “He’s our spark.”
Game 6 is set for Thursday in Los Angeles, where the Clippers must now win to force a decisive Game 7.
From miraculous comebacks and big blowouts to clutch buckets and emotional exits, Tuesday’s playoff action had it all. With the next round beginning to take shape, fans can only expect the drama to intensify as the NBA postseason rolls on.
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