Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield was feeling it straight from the tip-off on Thursday night as his team took on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen got his hand on the game's opening tip-off and flicked it back to where he was hoping one of his teammates was. Allen tipped it a bit too far, though, and the ball landed right in the waiting arms of Heild.
The nine-year NBA veteran calmly looked the ball in like an elite wide receiver snagging an over-the-shoulder catch, pivoted, rose up, and drained a three-pointer with only three seconds having ticked off the game clock.
Buddy Hield wasted no time pic.twitter.com/8dV5OJlbYE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 30, 2022
Not only was it an impressive play and shot by Hield, but ESPN Stats and Info is saying that it was actually a historic shot. Hield's shot was the fastest made three-pointer in the play-by-play era since the 1999-2000 season.
The last player to accomplish a shot that fast into a game was Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who hit a three with 11:56 on the clock on March 5th, 2000.
Miller, of course, played all 18 seasons of his legendary career with the Pacers, so it's ironic — if not completely fitting — that Hield accomplished this feat with the same organization.
There's something in the water in Indianapolis, and whatever it is leads to some great basketball.
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