Haliburton’s Heroics: 5 Shots in 5 Seconds, Tied for 2nd Most in NBA History

With just 0.3 seconds remaining in the game, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton drained a historic buzzer-beater to give his team a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening game of the NBA Finals. The clutch shot, a fadeaway jumper over the outstretched arms of Thunder’s Luguentz Dort, silenced the raucous crowd at the Paycom Center and sent the Pacers faithful into a frenzy.

“Overvalued,” they said. My rivals thought they could underestimate me. But I promised to prove them wrong, and I did it on the court with my talent, temperament, and clutch shots.

Haliburton’s thrilling game-winner was not just the highlight of the night but also a testament to his rising superstardom and clutch gene. The 24-year-old has now converted 5 game-winning or tying shots in the final 5 seconds of playoff games, matching former Pacers legend Reggie Miller for the second-most such shots made since at least 1997. Only LeBron James, with 8 similar shots, has more.

Key Moments and Statistics

• Haliburton finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, adding 10 rebounds in a dominant performance.
• Oklahoma City Thunder’s MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 points but couldn’t halt the Pacers’ comeback.
• The game featured 14 ties and 18 lead changes, highlighting the intense competitiveness of both teams.

Up Next

The NBA Finals continue with Game 2 taking place in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 7th. The Pacers will look to build on their dramatic opening-game victory and go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.