If there’s one thing Tyrese Haliburton loves, it’s delivering clutch moments. But if there’s another? It’s letting his opponents know about it.
The Indiana Pacers stunned the Milwaukee Bucks 115-114 on Tuesday night in the NBA, thanks to a cold-blooded four-point play from Haliburton in the final seconds. But the real highlight was his postgame antics.
As the buzzer sounded and the Pacers celebrated, Haliburton tapped his wrist—straight-up mimicking Damian Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” celebration. And with that, the trolling was complete.
Haliburton’s Clutch Heroics Seal the Deal
The Pacers needed a miracle. They were trailing 114-111. With just three seconds left on the clock, Haliburton found himself with the ball in his hands.
And that’s exactly what they got, a miracle.
Haliburton pulled up from beyond the arc, buried a contested three, and absorbed contact for the and-one. Ice in his veins. Final line: 14 points, 10 assists, and the biggest shot of the night. Clutch rating? Off the charts.
With the game tied, Haliburton calmly sank the go-ahead free throw, leaving Giannis Antetokounmpo with just seconds to respond. The Bucks superstar drove coast-to-coast, but his last-second attempt rolled off the rim, sealing the Pacers’ stunning comeback win.
But Haliburton wasn’t done making a statement.
Tyrese Haliburton once again pulled out Damian Lillard’s signature celebration after the Pacers’ win over the Bucks.
Milwaukee vs. Indiana Round 2 is currently projected as the 4-5 matchup in the Eastern Conference 🍿 pic.twitter.com/p2lFLTbJYu
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 12, 2025
He finished up with trolling Lillard With ‘Dame Time’—Again. The Dame Time taunt wasn’t just a spur of the moment, this was personal history.
Haliburton and Lillard: A Rivalry That Runs Deep
Back in the 2023 NBA Cup semifinals, Haliburton and the Pacers ran right through Milwaukee. They secured a 128-119 win that sent them to the Championship game. But the real moment that stuck? With just under three minutes left, Haliburton pulled up from deep, drilled a dagger three, and immediately checked his wrist—Dame Time style—while staring right at Lillard.
That wasn’t just confidence. That was a message. Haliburton torched the Bucks that night, finishing with 27 points, and 15 assists, outshining Lillard in a game where he looked like the biggest star on the floor. And just like Tuesday night, he let Dame know about it.
After that game, Lillard acknowledged the move but sent a warning. “I think that’s also a sign of respect and acknowledgement, when you having your moment is it’s important to be careful and be humble because you just never know how the tables turn and when they going to turn.”
Well, Haliburton clearly didn’t forget, because when the opportunity struck again, he doubled down.
After securing yet another clutch win over Lillard’s Bucks, Haliburton mocked the Dame Time celebration once more, sending the NBA world into a frenzy.
Now, with Indiana riding high off a statement win, the real question remains: Will Lillard respond the next time they meet? But one thing is certain, this rivalry is far from over.