Two years ago, as Jalen Brunson emerged as an All-Star point guard for the NBA's New York Knicks, the head coach of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, Becky Hammon, declared on an ESPN panel, "If your best player is small,

The Pacers staged a dramatic comeback in the final minute to force overtime, then held off New York in the closing seconds. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s All-Star guard, delivered the clutch shot at the buzzer to tie the game and send it to the extra frame.

Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton gives New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson his flowers after ECF Game 1.