Buddy Hield wasted no time finding the scoring column Thursday night.
And he did so in record-breaking fashion.
The Indiana Pacers sharp-shooter grabbed a game-opening jump ball out of midair that Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had swatted his way, pivoted at the top of the key and coolly connected on a 3-pointer to give Indiana a 3-0 lead — just three seconds into the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the bucket is the fastest made 3-pointer in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97). Hall of Famer Reggie Miller had the old record, connecting on a 3 at 11:56 of the opening quarter during a March 5, 2000, game against the Golden State Warriors.
Hield’s bucket set the tone for a big-scoring night for the home team.
The Pacers finished with a season high in points in a 135-126 win against a Cleveland team that entered the game with the best defensive efficiency in the NBA.
Hield finished with 25 points behind 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. The league leader in 3-pointers made became the first player in Pacers history with 60 or more 3s in a calendar month. It was his fourth straight game with four or more made 3s, one shy of his longest streak this season.