Khris Middleton · Clouded by the uncertainties of whether or not his All-Star teammates could shed the injuries that left them with “doubtful” and “out” tags throughout the series, Khris Middleton — deemed “questionable” to play with an ankle sprain of his own — ironically, walked into Game Three with nothing but answers. Unquestioned in his reputation as one of the NBA’s most underrated big-shot makers, Middleton adds to his greatest hits, collecting a pass from the Indiana Pacers’ logo with the clock dwindling and a game-tying 3-pointer required. Dribbling his way through a maze of Pacers defenders prepared to challenge, the three-time All-Star takes flight, burying a 30-foot, overtime-forcing bucket, muting the crowd in the process. Following it up shortly thereafter with an equally-memorable bank shot in the OT period, Middleton gave the Pacers’ defense all it could handle in the Game Three loss on April 26, 2024. Connecting on shots that his opponents deemed “hellacious” after the game, the Milwaukee Bucks star ended his night with a postseason career-high 42 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers in 41 minutes of play. · State of Mint · State of Mint