Tyrese Haliburton watched his season end in a sweep in the Eastern Conference finals a year ago. This year didn’t start much better. He played little in the Olympics, the Pacers stumbled to a 10-15 record, and some NBA players called him overrated. But Haliburton responded best by becoming the most clutch player in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
On Thursday night, he delivered again. With just 0.3 seconds left, Haliburton hit a 21-foot jumper to give the Pacers a 111-110 win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “When it comes to the moments, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn’t shy away from the moment,” teammate Myles Turner said, as he makes sure they lead when it matters most.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Clutch Moments Define His Greatness
Haliburton made a habit of shining in the most significant moments. He’s 4 for 4 in the final two seconds of regulation or overtime during these playoffs. The rest of the league is 4 for 26 in that same stretch. His run includes a game-winning layup against the Milwaukee Bucks, a wild three-pointer after his missed free throw in Cleveland, and a buzzer-beater to force overtime at Madison Square Garden.
Tyrese Haliburton has hit a game-winner or game-tying shot in the final seconds in EVERY SERIES this postseason.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
🥶🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/mhldSAE2pM
Every Shot silenced and strengthened his case as a true star. His teammates count on him, and opponents are starting to be concerned about his dominance. “You don’t want to live and die with the best player on the other team taking a game winner with a couple of seconds left,” said Thunder guard Alex Caruso.
In the first year of a $245 million supermax contract, Haliburton holds two All-NBA honors and Olympic gold. But this playoff run is building something more. The pacers thrived on a belief that no game is out of reach until the final buzzer sounds and that relentless mentality pushed Haliburton from star to full-blown superstar on the league’s biggest stage
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Also Read: Tyrese Haliburton Reveals The “Secret Sauce” Behind Pacers’ Stunning Playoff Surge
