“A lot of people didn't” — Tyrese Haliburton drops truth bomb after Indiana Pacers' huge Game 5 victory over Cleveland Cavaliers

Fans are now showering praise on Tyrese Haliburton , who has overcome all the negativity surrounding his name. The Indiana Pacers have secured a spot in the playoff finals after eliminating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in a fierce Game 5 battle on Tuesday, May 13th, at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Post-match, Haliburton shared how the Pacers clinched the huge win to secure the back-to-back playoff final spot.

Tyrese Haliburton says “a lot of people” didn’t have confidence in the Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton stole the show on Tuesday as his team, the Indiana Pacers, made history after clinching a spot in the playoff finals while keeping the championship dream alive. After the 114-105 Game 5 win, Haliburton says that many people had no confidence in the team, but the Pacers teammates stayed true to their game plans and silenced the doubters and critics in a most fulfilling way.

"We had a lot of confidence in what we did last year, even though a lot of people didn't," Haliburton said after the game.

"We had a lot of confidence in what we did last year, even though a lot of people didn't." 😤@TyHaliburton22 to @JaredSGreenberg after the @Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in consecutive seasons 👏 pic.twitter.com/m9tH5uCOpr

— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 14, 2025

He added that basketball is like a game of chess, although he never played, but his tactics and support from his teammates did wonder in the series as they had a 4-1 lead.

Haliburton led the Pacers in Game 5 with 31 points in 36 minutes, shooting an impressive 10-for-15 from the floor and sinking six of his ten shots from deep. He also knocked down five of six free throws, adding 8 assists and 6 rebounds to round out a complete performance. Despite a few turnovers, his impact was undeniable. With a +27 plus-minus, Haliburton’s presence kept Indiana in control, showing once again how valuable he is as both a scorer and a playmaker.

"This place was lit...our guys used the noise and the commotion to narrow their focus."

Indiana's Rick Carlisle credits his team for maintaining composure on the road to clinch an Eastern Conference Finals berth 👏 pic.twitter.com/DiqobECn3z

— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2025

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle also gave his thoughts on how the team clinched the win. "This crowd was off the hook... This place was lit. This was a tough environment. But our guys used the noise and commotion to narrow their focus," he said after the game. “That’s what you need to do in big moments and big games,” he added.

Also Read: LeBron James shuts down Tyrese Haliburton’s critics after Indiana Pacers’ big Game 5 win against Cleveland Cavaliers

Supporting Haliburton, Pascal Siakam also put up a big show, adding 21 points in almost 40 minutes of play. He also contributed 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Andrew Nembhard followed with 18 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds. Aaron Nesmith scored 13 points with 13 rebounds.