The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks battled in a nail-biter on Tuesday night, March 11, but the ending left Bucks fans furious. The game’s ending was straight out of a fantasy scenario — with the game inching to the conclusion, the Pacers were trailing by three and desperate for a miracle. Enter Tyrese Haliburton.
What followed was a moment of pure madness. Sprinting along the left sideline, Haliburton caught the inbound pass from Andrew Nembhard and, with Giannis Antetokounmpo towering over him, launched a near-impossible 3-pointer while falling out of bounds. The shot went up, high and wild, and to everyone’s surprise, it splashed through.
But then came the real shock as the refs blew the whistle, a foul on Antetokounmpo. And just like that, Haliburton got a chance to seal the game. The call sent social media into chaos, with Bucks fans instantly questioning the play.
Bucks Fans Furious Over Controversial Call in Loss to Pacers
Pacers fans obviously went wild with the sudden turn of events, while Bucks supporters and a good chunk of the NBA community were left stunned. As soon as the game ended, NBA fans flooded social media, fuming over what they saw as a phantom foul. Many couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.
“Where is the foul” one fan asked, struggling to see any contact on the replay.
Where is the foul
— Will (@willibetit) March 12, 2025
Haliburton sank the free throw, completing a wild 4-point play and giving the Pacers a 115-114 lead. Antetokounmpo had one last chance, racing down the court and getting off a clean 3-point attempt at the buzzer. But it fell short, sealing Milwaukee’s crushing loss.
“That’s a foul?” one fan wrote, clearly in disbelief.
That’s a foul?
— The Staggie Man (@thestaggieman) March 12, 2025
Some were more measured in their frustration. “Too bad they called a foul. Was a great game though,” one fan admitted, acknowledging the intensity of the matchup despite the controversial finish.
However, others outright dismissed the Pacers’ win. “They did not deserve that W,” one fan declared.
They did not deserve that W
— Christina Konto (@KontoChristina) March 12, 2025
Of course, some fans were just stunned by the play itself. “Holy crap, what is this? Looked insane,” another posted, summing up the wild finish.
All in all, it was Haliburton’s night as he returned from a three-game absence due to a hip injury, finishing with 14 points and 10 assists. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Benedict Mathurin added 17 points of his own.
For Milwaukee, the loss stung, wasting a 19-point, 17-rebound effort from Antetokounmpo and a 15-point, 11-assist day from Damian Lillard. However, for the Pacers, it was a win they’ll happily take — controversy and all.