As Tyrese Haliburton stood on the free throw line in the second quarter of Game 2 of the Indiana Pacers’ playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, fans taunted him with chants of ‘overrated.’ This referred to Haliburton being voted as the most overrated player in the league by peers in a recent poll by The Athletic.

Even star player Donovan Mitchell found such behavior out of line, urging his own fans to stop.

However, Haliburton proved his critics wrong as he sank a 25-foot 3-pointer with just 1.1 seconds remaining, securing a 120-119 victory and giving the Pacers a 2-0 series lead against the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

“I’m at peace with my game,” Haliburton stated, boasting 19 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, nine rebounds, and four assists. “I have all of the confidence to make these shots.”

This incredible comeback by the Pacers, who faced a 20-point deficit to triumph, showcased Haliburton’s significant impact in the playoffs despite earlier underestimations. This was not the first such performance this postseason; he helped the Pacers after trailing in Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks as well.

Following the game, Haliburton cheekily tweeted, ‘Overrate THAT.’ His father even celebrated the victory with exuberant enthusiasm, which led to his temporary ban from future games.

Despite facing a dazzling 48-point performance from Mitchell, the Cavaliers now face elimination threats with the next games coming up in Indiana. Coach Kenny Atkinson highlighted the situation as a significant hurdle yet remained hopeful.

The Pacers are gaining momentum, showing they are a force to be reckoned with. Haliburton’s remarkable ability to perform under pressure flips the narrative of him being ‘overrated.’ He now remarks on the hostility he has received from fans, stating, “That one was unexpected. I expect it to be the same until hopefully the next poll comes out, and we’ll see if I’m number one again.”