No matter the deficit or how bleak things may look, if the Indiana Pacers are on the floor, the game is never over—and they proved that once again in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Trailing by 12 at halftime and down by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter, the Pacers mounted a furious comeback. With under 10 seconds remaining and the game hanging in the balance, Indiana had the ball, down by one.
What followed was a chaotic final possession, but it ended with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton creating just enough space for a step-back mid-range jumper. He buried the shot to give the Pacers their first and only lead of the night—111-110—with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
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Following Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot and the Pacers’ huge road victory, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacted instantly on social media with just one word:
“Helly!?!?”
Despite committing a staggering 24 turnovers compared to Oklahoma City’s just six, the Pacers somehow managed to stay in the game—and, by their standards, remained within striking distance to mount yet another postseason comeback. That’s exactly what they did.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Haliburton didn’t have his most dominant offensive night, scoring just 14 points. However, he contributed 10 rebounds and six assists, and even on an off night offensively, he continues to come through in clutch moments.
He now has four go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of postseason games—second only to LeBron James, who has seven dating back to 1997.