Up by three with just 3.9 seconds left, the one thing you absolutely can’t afford to do is give up a game-tying three. Even worse? Fouling the shooter while they’re launching from deep. Yet, that’s exactly what went down for the Bucks. With the game all but wrapped up, Antetokounmpo made contact with Tyrese Haliburton on a desperate fadeaway from beyond the arc.

Against all odds, the shot somehow dropped, and with three seconds left, Haliburton had a golden opportunity to turn a prayer into a four-point play. For the Bucks, it was a brutal way to watch a lead slip away. Following Haliburton’s game-winning shot, Triple H took to ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter, to celebrate the moment, writing, “Buzzer Beater. Game over. Maybe it’s the shoes? 🤣” while tagging the Pacers star.

The connection between the two isn’t random—Haliburton debuted his new Puma All-Pro NITRO PE “DX” sneakers, inspired by Triple H himself. After Triple H reacted to Haliburton’s clutch four-point play, the Pacers star wasted no time in firing back. Reposting the WWE legend’s tweet, Haliburton wrote, “And if you don’t like that… We got 2 words for ya!!!!” along with Are You Ready, the iconic entrance song of D-Generation X.

For wrestling fans, the message was loud and clear. The “two words” Haliburton referenced? “S–k it”—the legendary DX catchphrase that became a staple of WWE’s Attitude Era. Well, why didn’t he hit the catchphrase along with the chopping motion to the pelvic on the court?

As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t about to hand the NBA $25,000 over a celebration. The league has fined players for less, and he knew better than to risk it.

But even without the signature WWE gesture, the moment still got plenty of love—especially from those closest to him. His girlfriend, Jade Jones shared a video of Haliburton drilling the deep three on her Instagram story.

Haliburton and Jade Jones go way back to their college days at Iowa State University. While Haliburton was lighting up the court, Jones was on the sidelines as part of the cheer squad, but their connection went far beyond game days.

Since then, their bond has only grown stronger. Jones has been one of Haliburton’s biggest supporters, standing by him as he transitioned from college star to NBA playmaker. In April 2024, the couple hit a major relationship milestone, celebrating five years together.

Just like their bond has grown, the 2x All-Star’s role with the Pacers has only become more crucial. But when he’s not on the floor, Indiana has struggled to keep things running smoothly.

The Pacers need to stop depending on Tyrese Haliburton all the time

Last season, the Pacers proved they could survive without Tyrese Haliburton, improving from a brutal 7-19 record in 2022-23 to a solid 7-6 the following year. Smart trades and player growth kept them afloat when their star guard was sidelined.

This season, that progress has disappeared. It’s a small sample size, but Indiana is 0-4 without Haliburton, including back-to-back losses to the Hawks. His absence has been impossible to ignore, and the team has struggled to adjust.

Myles Turner voiced his frustration after one of the losses in Atlanta, especially over his lack of touches. “As a team, we just couldn’t generate the right amount of shots,” he admitted. Without Haliburton setting the pace, the offense has been out of sync.

Indiana thrives on speed, floor spacing, and constant movement—an identity built around Haliburton’s playmaking. He ranks second in the NBA in both touches (94 per game) and passes (75 per game), making him the engine of their offense. Without him, the team struggles to create the same flow.

The problem isn’t a lack of talent. The Pacers have scorers and shooters, but redistributing Haliburton’s workload has been a challenge. Pascal Siakam emphasized the need to “keep attacking and moving the ball,” but the offense has slipped into bad habits.

With only a month left in the regular season and four back-to-backs looming, Indiana has no choice but to figure things out fast.