In a heart-pounding Recreation 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton delivered a second for the ages. With simply 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock, the Indiana Pacers’ All-Star guard sank a mid-range jumper that sealed a dramatic 111–110 victory over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. For a franchise that hasn’t reached the NBA Finals in 25 years, Haliburton’s heroics supplied not solely an exciting win however a large confidence enhance of their quest for the championship.
A Second that Outlined a Recreation
With the Pacers trailing by one and the sport seemingly slipping away, head coach Rick Carlisle drew up a ultimate play out of a timeout. The goal? Haliburton—Indiana’s flooring normal and offensive catalyst. The inbound discovered him close to the highest of the important thing. He took a single dribble to his left, rose over the outstretched arms of Thunder defender Lu Dort, and calmly knocked down the jumper.
The world erupted. Haliburton, identified extra for his unselfish playmaking than late-game heroics, ran again down the courtroom stone-faced, flanked by ecstatic teammates. There was no time for Oklahoma Metropolis to reply. The buzzer sounded, and Recreation 1 belonged to the Indiana Pacers.
Haliburton’s Quiet Begin, Loud End
What made the ultimate shot much more spectacular was how quiet Haliburton had been for a lot of the night time. By means of three quarters, he had simply 9 factors and gave the impression to be struggling to seek out his rhythm. Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection was relentless, hounding him with traps and forcing the ball out of his palms.
However Haliburton stayed affected person. He directed the offense, discovered his teammates, and waited for his second. That second got here within the ultimate 90 seconds, when he scored six of Indiana’s final eight factors, together with the dagger. He completed with 14 factors, 10 boards, 6 assists, on 46% capturing, a stat line that doesn’t absolutely seize his impression on the sport’s end result.
Thunder Strike First, However Can’t End
The Thunder entered Recreation 1 using excessive. They’d dominated the Western Convention playoffs, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander main the cost. True to kind, Gilgeous-Alexander was spectacular in Recreation 1, dropping 38 factors on a wide range of floaters, pull-ups, and acrobatic drives. He regarded unguardable for a lot of the night time and had the Thunder up by as many as 15 factors within the third quarter.
Oklahoma Metropolis exploited Indiana’s sloppiness early, forcing 19 turnovers within the first half alone. The Pacers appeared out of sync, rattled by the Thunder’s size and defensive strain. However as the sport wore on, Indiana settled down, adjusted to the velocity of the Finals, and commenced to chip away on the deficit.
The Pacers’ Supporting Forged Steps Up
Whereas Haliburton delivered the signature second, he didn’t do it alone. Myles Turner was large on each ends of the ground, ending with 15 factors, 9 rebounds, and three blocks. His means to stretch the ground and shield the rim gave Indiana a combating probability.
Obi Toppin introduced vitality off the bench, contributing 17 factors and a crucial putback dunk late within the fourth quarter that lower the result in one. Andrew Nembhard, in the meantime, performed maybe his greatest recreation of the postseason. The second-year guard from Gonzaga saved the offense flowing when Haliburton sat, and even spent a while guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, holding his personal in opposition to one of many league’s most dynamic scorers.
Collectively, the Pacers’ ensemble solid gave Haliburton the platform to shine—and so they have been all mobbing him after the buzzer-beater.
A Franchise Reborn
This Finals run has been years within the making for Indiana. After many years of mediocrity and a number of first-round playoff exits, the Pacers retooled their roster round youth, versatility, and unselfishness. Haliburton, acquired in a daring midseason commerce in 2022, was the centerpiece of that shift.
His arrival modified the tradition. The Pacers now play quicker, share the ball extra, and defend with a collective depth. And whereas Haliburton was already seen as a rising star, his Recreation 1 efficiency confirmed that he’s able to delivering underneath the brightest lights.
For town of Indianapolis, lengthy starved for NBA glory because the Reggie Miller period, Haliburton’s game-winner was a cathartic launch. Followers roared in celebration, sensing this may very well be the start of one thing particular.
Thunder Left Shocked
For the Thunder, Recreation 1 was a intestine punch. They did so many issues proper. Their defensive rotations have been sharp, their ball motion crisp, and their bench contributed strong minutes. Jalen Williams added 17 factors, and Chet Holmgren had 6 factors and 6 rebounds.
But it wasn’t sufficient. Oklahoma Metropolis struggled to execute within the ultimate minutes, lacking open appears and committing expensive turnovers. A questionable no-call on Gilgeous-Alexander’s ultimate drive with 12 seconds left gave Indiana one final probability—and Haliburton made them pay.
Coach Mark Daigneault emphasised postgame that it’s a seven-game collection and that his younger squad would regroup. However there’s little question that shedding Recreation 1 in such dramatic trend stings.
What’s Subsequent within the Collection?
With the Pacers up 1–0, the strain now shifts to the Thunder to reply in Recreation 2. Changes are anticipated—significantly in how they deal with Haliburton in late-game conditions. Dort, their defensive specialist, will doubtless be tasked with much more minutes on Indiana’s star guard, and anticipate Oklahoma Metropolis to run extra late-game offense via their secondary scorers to take some strain off Gilgeous-Alexander.
For Indiana, Recreation 2 is a large alternative. Profitable the opener was large; taking a 2–0 lead on the street would tilt the collection dramatically of their favor. However they’ll want to wash up their turnovers and proceed to get large contributions from their bench to tug it off.
Carlisle’s workforce has already proven it might probably punch again after adversity, however doing it twice in Oklahoma Metropolis would make a robust assertion.
Haliburton’s Legacy Second
Moments like Haliburton’s game-winner usually outline careers. Although simply 24 years outdated, Haliburton is already seen as one of many league’s premier guards. This shot—on the street, within the Finals, with lower than a second on the clock—elevates his standing to a brand new stage.
He joins a brief record of gamers who’ve delivered game-winners within the NBA Finals, becoming a member of names like Michael Jordan, Kyrie Irving, and Ray Allen. Whereas there’s nonetheless an extended option to go on this collection, Haliburton’s buzzer-beater is already etched into NBA lore.
Greater than that, it showcased the DNA of this Pacers workforce: resilient, fearless, and unafraid of the second.
Ultimate Ideas
Recreation 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals lived as much as each expectation—after which some. It was a battle of two rising groups led by two of the league’s brightest younger stars. And whereas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dazzled as anticipated, it was Tyrese Haliburton who owned the night time together with his 0.3-second masterpiece.
The Pacers now maintain a 1–0 collection lead and the momentum. But when this recreation was any indication, followers are in for a wild, unforgettable Finals collection. Recreation 2 can’t come quickly sufficient.
