The Indiana Pacers once again pulled off a stunning comeback win in these playoffs, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Pacers were down by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter but stormed back and won thanks to yet another Tyrese Haliburton game-winner.
Haliburton drilled a long 2-pointer over Cason Wallace with 0.3 seconds remaining to hand the Pacers yet another unlikely win this postseason. The two-time All-Star is making this a habit at this point.
Haliburton, who had 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a block in Game 1, has now hit four go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime this postseason.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The first came against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 in the first round. Haliburton made a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining to knock the Bucks out of the playoffs. Then, in Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he hit a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to help the Pacers take a 2-0 lead.
Haliburton's third make was a 2-pointer against the New York Knicks at the buzzer in Game 1 of the Conference finals. That shot sent the game to overtime, and the Pacers would eventually prevail in the extra period.
Haliburton has been simply sensational, and Brian Windhorst stated on "Get Up" that this is the greatest stretch of clutch shooting in NBA history.
"Tyrese Haliburton is unequivocally having the greatest run of clutch shooting we have seen in the history of the sport," Windhorst said on Get Up. "So, you know about the four shots within 1.3 seconds just in the playoffs, but [Mike Greenberg], I'm going to tell you that this season, Tyrese Haliburton is 12-of-14 inside two minutes in the game to go ahead of tie the game. We've never seen anything like that."
The numbers are incredible. It's getting to a point now where there is a sense of inevitability when Haliburton is taking a big shot at the end of a game. He stunned the Thunder here, and the Pacers are now just three wins away from the title.
Game 2 will be at the Paycom Center on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.