Lillard ‘can’t be upset’ over Haliburton’s Dame Time celebration, but warns Pacers star ‘to be humble’

LAS VEGAS — A late 3-pointer in a big game, followed by a pointing at the wrist, where a watch would be.

Damian Lillard was on the court Thursday night when it happened, but it wasn’t “Dame Time.” The moment belonged to Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton.

With 49.5 seconds left in the Pacers’ 129-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in an In-Season Tournament semifinal, Haliburton buried a 3-pointer that essentially iced the win for his team. After the ball went in, and as the Las Vegas crowd was going crazy over what it just saw, Haliburton pointed toward his wrist.

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The gesture is, of course, Lillard’s signature move, which he’s done to numerous opponents after a deep 3 near the end of close games.

“I think it was just in the heat of the moment, having fun,” said Haliburton, who led the Pacers with 27 points and 15 assists. “I know I kind of pounded my chest and said it was my time, whatever, but I think really looking at it, it’s our time. It’s our time as a group.”

Lillard, who finished with 24 points, seven boards and seven assists, was well aware of Haliburton’s post-shot celebration. Lillard said he “respected it” and said he shook hands with Haliburton after the game, but he also seemed to warn the younger Indiana star about doing someone else’s move.

Haliburton is 23, in his fourth pro season, has been an All-Star already and signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension last summer.

“When you are having your moment, it’s important to be careful, to be humble in your moments because you just never know how the tables are going to turn or when they are going to turn,” Lillard said. “I learned as a kid, when you dish it out, you’ve got to be willing to take it. For as many times as I’ve done it to people, I can’t be upset when somebody else does it, you know what I mean. I think that’s also a sign of respect and acknowledgment for knowing my history and knowing what I do.”

Obi Toppin, Haliburton’s Pacers teammate, said the Indiana players on the bench were “going crazy” over Haliburton’s dagger 3 and celebration.

“We know Ty is going to hit those,” Toppin said. “He’s done it every single game so far. He’s a really good player, especially a late-game clutch player. That’s why he got what he got, the money that he got, because he’s a tremendous player. I love playing with him.”

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(Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)