Tyrese Haliburton’s Game-Winner Lifts Pacers in Stunning Game 1 Upset
With 0.3 seconds left on the clock, Tyrese Haliburton drilled a clutch 21-foot jumper to give the Indiana Pacers a 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The shot stunned the OKC crowd. Additionally, it capped off a wild fourth-quarter comeback that gave Indiana a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 1 was played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on June 5, 2025. Despite trailing most of the game and turning the ball over 24 times, the Pacers outscored the Thunder 35-22 in the fourth quarter. As a result, they managed to to claw their way back. Haliburton’s dagger not only sealed the victory but added to his growing legend as a clutch performer in this postseason.
Now, he’s done it on the biggest stage.
Pacers Rally Behind Haliburton’s Heroics
Haliburton played 39 minutes and logged a well-rounded stat line: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and a +12 plus-minus. Though not his highest-scoring game, the final shot elevated his performance into the spotlight.
This wasn’t new territory for the 24-year-old point guard. Haliburton had already hit multiple game-winners earlier in the 2025 playoffs:
April 29 vs. Milwaukee: Game-winner with 1.4 seconds left
May 6 vs. Cleveland: Buzzer-beater with 1.1 seconds left
May 21 vs. New York: Forced OT with a zero-second jumper, led to 138-135 win
His final shot in Game 1, described as a “circus shot” by ESPN, came just inside the arc over tight defense, confirming his status as the most clutch player in this postseason.
Thunder Collapse After Strong Start
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did everything he could to secure a Game 1 win for the Thunder. He dropped 38 points, with 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 14-of-30 shooting. However, a missed shot in the final minute left the door open for Haliburton’s heroics.
The Thunder looked in control early, holding a 15-point lead and dominating turnovers—forcing 24 while only committing six themselves. But Indiana adjusted in the second half, committing only 6 more turnovers and shooting 6-of-10 from three in the fourth quarter alone.
Jalen Williams added 17 points for OKC, while Lu Dort chipped in 15 and played suffocating perimeter defense throughout most of the night. Chet Holmgren was quiet, scoring just 6 points with 6 rebounds in 24 minutes.
Full Stat Breakdown
Top Pacers Performers:
Pascal Siakam: 19 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast
Andrew Nembhard: 14 pts, 6 ast
Myles Turner: 15 pts, 9 reb
Aaron Nesmith: 10 pts, 12 reb
Obi Toppin (bench): 17 pts, 5 reb
T.J. McConnell (bench): 9 pts, 4 ast
Team Shooting:
FG%: 47.6%
3P%: 46.2% (18-of-39)
FT%: 71.4%
Top Thunder Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 38 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast
Jalen Williams: 17 pts, 6 ast
Lu Dort: 15 pts, 4 reb, 4 stl
Team Shooting:
FG%: 39.8%
3P%: 36.7%
FT%: 87.5%
Despite forcing 24 turnovers and shooting more shots overall, the Thunder were out-rebounded 56-39 and allowed Indiana to find rhythm late.
Social Media Explodes After Haliburton’s Shot
Fans on X exploded with reactions to Haliburton’s buzzer-beater:
@TWDTV1: “WHAT THE HELLY AGAIN!!! Tyrese Haliburton with another MASSIVE SHOT.”
@GoIdenState: “TYRESE HALIBURTON DOES IT AGAIN OMFGGGGG. GAME WINNER IN THE FINALS.”
@HoodieRamey: “Haliburton is ICE cold. Insane clutch gene.”
Even celebrities chimed in. Patrick Mahomes tweeted a flame emoji and reposted the highlight clip. Caitlin Clark also posted a reaction with the words: “Haliburton got that DAWG in him.”
Pacers fans in attendance at the official Gainbridge Fieldhouse watch party were seen erupting as the shot fell. The energy has since carried over to social media, where the hashtag #Haliburton and “Pacers” began trending within minutes.
A Defining Moment in Haliburton’s Career
Game 1 was Haliburton’s signature moment on the biggest stage yet. Though not his most statistically dominant night, it was his calm under pressure and knack for finding the perfect angle that proved the difference. NBA analysts like Chiney Ogwumike called it “one of the most clutch Finals moments in recent memory.”
The Pacers, who entered the Finals without home-court advantage, have now flipped the series with a road win. If this level of clutch play continues, Haliburton could emerge as the face of a new era in Indiana basketball.
Tyrese Haliburton has built a reputation for his game-winners in the 2025 postseason. Because the Pacers played injured teams in 2024, their 2024 playoff run faced scrutiny. This year, the Pacers won 50 games, earned home court vs. Milwaukee, defeated a healthy 64-18 Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, dispatched the New York Knicks in six games, and then made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.
In Haliburton’s NBA Finals debut, he calmly made the game-winning shot, capping off a double digit fourth quarter comeback.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
The Thunder now face pressure heading into Game 2. With OKC’s youth and athleticism, they remain a threat to bounce back. But with Haliburton building a resume of late-game magic and Indiana firing on all cylinders, the series narrative has already shifted.
Given how the Pacers have made Game 1 on the road look, during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, it’s almost like a trap game for any team with home court advantage. In the previous two rounds, the Pacers’ Game 1 opponents have not been able to recover from the Game 1 loss. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder through adversity, already, in these NBA Playoffs.
In fact, during the second round, the Thunder had a similar Game 1 collapse vs. the Denver Nuggets. Then, it looked as though OKC would lose in the second round. Aaron Gordon was the hero then, who kept capping off comebacks. Somehow, the Thunder overcame that and SGA wound up being the hero. Now, he has three more chances to right this ship.
Game 2 will tip off on June 8 in Oklahoma City. But the memory of Game 1—and Haliburton’s cold-blooded winner—will linger long after.
