Tyrese Haliburton has been a thorn in Milwaukee’s side, but the Bucks need to keep him out of the paint in their playoff series.
For the past two seasons, Tyrese Haliburton has been a walking migraine for the Milwaukee Bucks—relentlessly picking apart their defense and making life miserable for whoever draws the short straw of guarding him.
The Indiana Pacers’ floor general has torched Milwaukee repeatedly, leading his team to key victories while letting everyone know about it, one celebration at a time.
His flair, confidence, and showmanship are all part of the package. He’s the kind of player you’d fight to have on your roster but can’t stand when he’s lighting yours up. He’s basketball’s version of a charming villain—easy to admire from afar, infuriating up close.
There’s no questioning Haliburton’s brilliance. He’s on the short list of elite passers in the NBA, a wizard with the ball who sees angles before they even open up. He doesn’t just run Indiana’s offense—he orchestrates it. As Haliburton goes, so do the Pacers.
And against Milwaukee, he’s been driving that bus straight through the Bucks’ defense.
He’s tallied 41 assists across the regular-season series—his second-highest total against any opponent this season—and most of that damage came during their two matchups in March. He dropped 10 dimes in a Pacers win on March 11, then 15 more in a Bucks victory on March 15.
