WATCH: Tyrese Haliburton's Epic Celebration Stuns Sam Cassell After Viral Game-Winner Against Cavs

During an impressive playoff win, Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to overcome a 7-point deficit with under a minute left on the clock, ultimately defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers with a score of 120-119 and securing a dominant 2-0 advantage in the series.

Following two Donovan Mitchell free throws that put the Cavaliers ahead 119-112 with only 57.1 seconds remaining, Pascal Siakam drew a foul and stepped up to the free-throw line. Unfortunately for his team, Siakam missed both shots. It appeared as though the Pacers had let slip their final chance. Nevertheless, Aaron Nesmith responded with an emphatic slam on the subsequent inbound play, narrowing the gap to five points.

During the subsequent sequence, Mitchell committed an offensive foul. Conversely, Siakam managed to make it to the basket for a layup. Following another Cleveland mistake, Haliburton drew a foul and sank the initial free throw, narrowing the gap to two points. However, he failed on the follow-up attempt but secured his own rebound and delivered what might have been his most pivotal move so far.

Haliburton Drills Game-Winner, Brings Up a Moment From the Past

Following that rebound, Haliburton made his way back past the three-point line and sank a contested triple, putting the Pacers ahead 120-119 with only one second remaining, securing an unlikely win for them.

Following his successful shot, Haliburton spun around and jogged back down the court, mimicking former Houston Rockets guard Sam Cassell’s iconic "big balls" celebration.

Cassell is most recognized for his role with the Rockets' championship squads in 1994 and 1995. Initially serving mainly as a substitute for current TNT commentator Kenny Smith, Cassell developed a reputation as a key performer under pressure. This ultimately resulted in his well-known celebratory moment.

In the 1994 NBA Finals, Cassell made a memorable impact by scoring 7 crucial points in the last 32 seconds of Game 3, guiding the Rockets to a 93-89 triumph over the New York Knicks. This performance was part of a series that Houston ultimately won in seven games.

Cassell has also suited up for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics, securing his third NBA championship with the latter in 2008. He now serves as an assistant coach in Boston.

Haliburton has stepped up his game during the latter part of the 2025 postseason, and he merits comparison with Cassell’s performance under pressure. The way Haliburton adopted Cassell’s celebratory gesture was perfectly suited for the moment.

Cassell’s inspiration was drawn from Major League

Cassell originally got the idea from the movie ‘Major League’ .

“I got that dance off the movie Major League,” Cassell explained. “When I saw Major League, I said I got to put that one in. And I did it. It was fine and dandy when I did it… and I kept doing it.

The late Commissioner David Stern had seen enough of it. One day, he informed me that I needed to put an end to it. He issued a warning, and after that, I ceased engaging in such behavior. It simply wasn't worth risking $25,000 over. However, with players like Kobe Bryant, things were different since his wealth allowed him to easily manage those fines.

Haliburton can likely expect a fine himself come Wednesday.

Pacers Look To Put Cavs on Brink of Elimination Friday

Haliburton concluded the game with 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, whereas Nesmith and Myles Turner led the team with a highest score of 23 points each. Bennedict Mathurin contributed an additional 19 points.

Despite Mitchell’s 48-point performance to spearhead the Cavaliers, his scoring frenzy was not sufficient to surmount the Pacers' clutch plays in the final moments of the game. Max Strus contributed with 23 points along with eight rebounds, and center Jarrett Allen chipped in with 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Following their victories in the initial away games, the Pacers are set to carry their 2-0 lead into the next round back home in Indiana on Friday evening. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. EST.