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.
Buddy Hield wasted NO TIME after the tip 😳 pic.twitter.com/V3ugqywjIE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2022
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, though, didn’t keep the Pacers in the lead for long.
Donovan Mitchell countered with back-to-back hoops, and Cleveland took a 34-29 lead after the opening quarter.