Buddy Hield has officially become the East’s fastest shooter, probably ever.

 

On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers began their 135-126 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a lightning-fast 3-pointer. Hield grabbed the tip from Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen on Cleveland’s side of the court, whirled around, and drained the ball in one seamless motion.

 

The entire process took around three seconds, from tip-off to field goal.

 

According to a source Hield’s shot is the first in NBA history for a player to make a 3-pointer in the first three seconds of a game. These stats date back to the 1996-97 season.

 

That tiny bit of NBA history adds to Hield’s otherwise great season. The sharpshooter is presently shooting 41.9 percent from outside the arc while averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.

 

Hield joined the Pacers as part of the Domantas Sabonis blockbuster deal last season and is still the subject of numerous NBA trade rumors, most notably as a target for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Hield has a $21.2 million salary-cap hit this season and a $19.3 million contract for next season, but in a league where 3-point shooting and spacing are kings, his 3-point shooting makes him an easy sell for just about any contender.

 

For the nine-point victory on Thursday, the Pacers finished the game on a 19-5 run that lasted more than five minutes. Tyrese Haliburton scored 29 points with nine assists in the victory, which was Indiana’s fourth in its previous five games. Hield finished with 25 points and went 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.

 

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and dished out six assists to lead the Cavaliers, and Jarrett Allen chipped in with 19 points and 14 rebounds. As of Saturday’s, game in Chicago, Cleveland has now dropped three straight games.