"Guys trust me" - Tyrese Haliburton talks about the final moments of Pacers' shocking Game 1 win vs. Thunder
"Guys trust me" - Tyrese Haliburton talks about the final moments of Pacers' shocking Game 1 win vs. Thunder originally appeared on Basketball Network.
There's a new king when it comes to clutch shotmaking and his name is Tyrese Haliburton. In Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, he delivered his best one yet, sinking a jumper from the right wing with less than a second remaining to give the Indiana Pacers a stunning 111-110 win over the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder.
Advertisement
The game-winning basket was Hali's third in what has been a magical postseason for the Pacers. Seconds after his team broke up the Thunder's last offensive possession, Tyrese explained what went into their last offensive possession.
Pacers didn't call a timeout
As Aaron Nesmith hauled down the rebound after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a midrange jumper, the Pacers had a chance to call a timeout to set up a play. However, Rick Carlisle opted to let his players, Hali in particular, take control of the game.
"Coach trusts us in those moments to not call timeouts, trusts me in those moments. Guys trust me. And I'm just trying to make a play," Tyrese told Lisa Salters after the game. "So — man — basketball's fun, man. Winning is fun. That's a great win for us."
Advertisement
The Thunder still had one possession to alter the game's result. However, Myles Turner ruined OKC's plans by tipping the ball away — a play that wasn't lost on the All-Star guard.
"Big-time play. Myles did a great job at the rim. They tried to do a pin-down to get him out of the action so they could throw the lob. Myles got around it; good tip," Hali said.
While Haliburton had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, five other Pacers scored in double-figures. Pascal Siakam led the team with 19, Turner had 15, Andrew Nembhard added 14, while Nesmith pitched in 10. Obi Toppin also came off the bench and scored 17 points.
"It's a total team effort. We had so many guys chip in — Obi was huge off the bench, Myles in the fourth, Andrew Nembhard in the fourth. So many guys stepped up, and I'm just really proud of this group," the two-time All-Star said. "We just had to figure out how to win in so many different ways — all year, the past two years. There's so many weird, different ways, and we just figured it out. We're a resilient group. And I'm just really proud of this group."
Advertisement
Related: Fred VanVleet once revealed all the ways the Raptors tried to convince Kawhi Leonard to stay: "There is nothing more that we can do"
Pacers are not fazed by the moment
The Pacers are no strangers to making late-game comebacks. However, their latest escape act on Thursday was their most impressive, as it tied for the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the last half-century. Although many players contributed to the win, it was Hali's high-arcing jumper that ultimately secured the victory.
"When I got off the bus, when I put on my shoes, I mean, there was never a disbelief as a group, honestly," Haliburton said. "They have a lot of confidence in me to make that shot. I don't know what you say about it, I just know that this group is a resilient group and we don't give up until there is zero on the clock."
Advertisement
Siakam chimed in, saying that when he handed the ball off to Tyrese as the seconds wound down, he had complete confidence in his guard to make the correct play.
"I was just trying to look for him, find him. We trust him in those situations to make the right play. Today it was a shot, and he made it. But he can also make the pass — he can do anything. So I had 100 percent confidence in him," the All-Star forward said.
Indiana drew first blood in the NBA Finals, an unexpected blow to OKC's seemingly impenetrable armor. With Game 2 looming, it will be interesting to see what the next page in this thrilling chapter holds.
Related: "They teach you that lesson more than anybody else in the league the hard way" - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to shocking Game 1 loss vs. Pacers
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
DeGrom pitches 6 strong innings, Seager snaps homer drought in Rangers' 6-2 victory over Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- Jacob deGrom struck out seven in six strong innings, Corey Seager hit his first home run since May 10 and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night. DeGrom (7-2) retired the first 11 batters and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk. One day after his 37th birthday, the two-time Cy Young Award winner extended his franchise record to 12 consecutive starts of allowing two runs or fewer and five hits or fewer. After being injured for most of the past four seasons, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four June starts. Seager homered with one out in the fifth inning off rookie Mike Burrows (1-2), a drive to right field to increase the Rangers' lead to 4-2. The five-time All-Star shortstop had gone 81 plate appearances without a home run while also being on the injured list from May 11-27 with a strained right hamstring. Burrows lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Texas' Adolis Garcia had three hits — including a double and his ninth homer — and two RBIs while making two outstanding diving catches in right field. Marcus Semien went 2 for 5 for the Rangers and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. The Pirates' Joey Bart had three hits. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger left the game in the seventh inning with left-side tightness. Center fielder Wyatt Langford sat out because of back spasms. The Pirates closed to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth inning, but deGrom caught Alexander Canario looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. DeGrom made his 15th start, his most in a season since also starting 15 times for the New York Mets in 2021. ___
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
DeGrom pitches 6 strong innings, Seager snaps homer drought in Rangers' 6-2 victory over Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out seven in six strong innings, Corey Seager hit his first home run since May 10 and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night. DeGrom (7-2) retired the first 11 batters and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk. One day after his 37th birthday, the two-time Cy Young Award winner extended his franchise record to 12 consecutive starts of allowing two runs or fewer and five hits or fewer. After being injured for most of the past four seasons, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four June starts. Seager homered with one out in the fifth inning off rookie Mike Burrows (1-2), a drive to right field to increase the Rangers' lead to 4-2. The five-time All-Star shortstop had gone 81 plate appearances without a home run while also being on the injured list from May 11-27 with a strained right hamstring. Burrows lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Texas' Adolis Garcia had three hits — including a double and his ninth homer — and two RBIs while making two outstanding diving catches in right field. Marcus Semien went 2 for 5 for the Rangers and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. The Pirates' Joey Bart had three hits. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger left the game in the seventh inning with left-side tightness. Center fielder Wyatt Langford sat out because of back spasms. Key moment The Pirates closed to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth inning, but deGrom caught Alexander Canario looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. Key stat DeGrom made his 15th start, his most in a season since also starting 15 times for the New York Mets in 2021. Up next On Saturday, rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (2-4, 7.31 ERA) will pitch for the Rangers against RHP Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08). ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
DeGrom pitches 6 strong innings, Seager snaps homer drought in Rangers' 6-2 victory over Pirates
Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out seven in six strong innings, Corey Seager hit his first home run since May 10 and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night. DeGrom (7-2) retired the first 11 batters and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk. One day after his 37th birthday, the two-time Cy Young Award winner extended his franchise record to 12 consecutive starts of allowing two runs or fewer and five hits or fewer. After being injured for most of the past four seasons, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four June starts. Seager homered with one out in the fifth inning off rookie Mike Burrows (1-2), a drive to right field to increase the Rangers' lead to 4-2. The five-time All-Star shortstop had gone 81 plate appearances without a home run while also being on the injured list from May 11-27 with a strained right hamstring. Burrows lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Texas' Adolis Garcia had three hits — including a double and his ninth homer — and two RBIs while making two outstanding diving catches in right field. Marcus Semien went 2 for 5 for the Rangers and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. The Pirates' Joey Bart had three hits. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger left the game in the seventh inning with left-side tightness. Center fielder Wyatt Langford sat out because of back spasms. Key moment The Pirates closed to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth inning, but deGrom caught Alexander Canario looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. Key stat DeGrom made his 15th start, his most in a season since also starting 15 times for the New York Mets in 2021. Up next On Saturday, rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (2-4, 7.31 ERA) will pitch for the Rangers against RHP Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08). ___ AP MLB: recommended
