In a heart-stopping finish to Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton delivered a moment of pure magic for the Indiana Pacers. With just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, Haliburton sank a 21-foot jumper to secure a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the Pacers' first lead of the game.

The Thunder, playing with the home-court advantage, had dominated much of the contest, leading by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's reigning MVP, was in control with 38 points, but his missed two-point attempt with 12 seconds remaining proved costly. The Pacers capitalized on the rebound, quickly transitioning the ball to Haliburton, who drove down the court and hit the game-winner.

This marks the fourth time in the 2025 playoffs that Haliburton has delivered in clutch moments—three times to win a game and once to force overtime. Despite committing 25 turnovers, including 20 in the first half, the Pacers found a way to prevail.

"It's not the recipe to win," Haliburton admitted post-game. "We can't turn the ball over that much. But come May and June, it doesn't matter how you get them, just get them."

Teammate Myles Turner praised Haliburton's composure under pressure: "Some players will say they have it, but there are other players that show it. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn't shy away from that moment."

For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam led the scoring with 19 points, followed by Obi Toppin with 17. Meanwhile, the Thunder's Jalen Williams reflected on the team's cautious approach in the final minutes: "We played like we were trying to keep the lead instead of trying to extend it or be aggressive."

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will take place in Oklahoma City on Sunday, June 8, at 19:00 local time (01:00 BST Monday). Can the Thunder bounce back, or will the Pacers continue their momentum? Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable NBA Finals series.