Tyrese Haliburton impresses NBA fans with another jaw-dropping game-winner: "Clutchest player in NBA history and it's not close"

Tyrese Haliburton put on the superhero cape after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander failed to deliver late in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The OKC Thunder superstar, recently named MVP, missed a mid-range jumper with 11.0 seconds left. Indiana coach Rick Carlisle refused to call a timeout and trusted Haliburton to make the winning play.

Haliburton, mindful of the clock, slowed the pace a little before accelerating for a drive on the right side. He suddenly stopped to distance himself from the flailing Cason Wallace before nailing a 21-footer with 0.3 seconds remaining. The Pacers bottled up the Thunder defensively in the next possession to escape with a 111-110 win.

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Fans promptly reacted to Haliburton’s game-winning shot on social media:

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The Thunder led 96-82 after Alex Caruso converted a layup. However, Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin and Pascal Siakam kept the Pacers afloat until Haliburton stole the show at the end.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also played well. He scored 19 points in the first half before adding another 19 in the second. "SGA" dropped 10 in the last seven minutes but failed to hit the crucial jumper that set the stage for Haliburton to take the limelight.

Tyrese Haliburton has had three game-winning or go-ahead shots with 5.0 seconds or less in this year's playoffs. Per Greg Harvey of OptaStats, he has the most such conversions in a single playoff run.

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Indiana’s shooting from deep paved the way for Tyrese Haliburton to play hero

The comeback kids of the 2025 NBA playoffs needed to heat up from deep to chase down the OKC Thunder in Game 1. Oklahoma led 94-79 after Jalen Williams’ dunk with 9:42 remaining. The Pacers responded by going 6-for-9 from behind the arc to stun the home team.

Big men Myles Turner and Obi Toppin led the long-range barrage, combining for 4-for-5 shots from rainbow distance. Turner’s last triple, a 26-footer, made it 98-94 with 6:16 left. Tyrese Haliburton came in when the Thunder's lead had ballooned to 15 and orchestrated the comeback by efficiently running the offense.

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Siakam grabbed an offensive rebound and then converted a bank shot to reduce the deficit to 110-109. Gilgeous-Alexander missed a fadeaway mid-range jumper with Nembhard draped all over him.

Haliburton took charge following the miss and made the go-ahead jumper, leaving the Thunder with almost no time to attempt a shot.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero