Rick Carlisle Compared Tyrese Haliburton to Who?

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton's Game 5 performance in the series-sealing win launched the star point guard into legendary territory, according to head coach Rick Carlisle. Carlisle compared Haliburton to a Pacers legend following the 119-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Despite trailing by as many as 20 points, and seven in the final 40 seconds of overtime, the Pacers followed through with a massive comeback over the Bucks. Pacers' Myles Turner scored 21 points on 3 for 6 shooting from 3 and an 8 for 10 mark from the charity stripe. But the primary reason for the Pacers' comeback belongs to Haliburton.

Although the Pacers' point guard finished Game 5's win with a 20-percent mark from 3, Carlisle likened Haliburton to the best and most beloved player in franchise history. 

"When it comes to belief in himself, Tyrese [Haliburton] has an iron will," Carlisle said. "He just works extremely hard on what he does. He works extremely hard on his craft, his skill. He's unafraid. He reminds me of Reggie [Miller]."

The Bucks appeared positioned to extend the series to six games until Haliburton fearlessly attacked Giannis Antetokounmpo off the dribble. Down 103-99 in regulation, Haliburton scored the final four points, giving the Pacers a chance to end the Bucks' season in overtime. 

In overtime, he missed a layup and two open 3s, but Haliburton again capitalized in the game's final seconds. The Pacers' point guard scored the game's final five points, eliminating the Bucks from the playoffs and advancing the Carlisle-coached team to the second round for the second consecutive year. 

Haliburton is known more for his passing and assists, but Game 5's game will go down as "one of the all-time great Pacers wins", in Carlisle's opinion. Similar to Miller, Haliburton had his hands all over Tuesday's game, and in the final seconds, rose to the grand occasion for his team.