At this point, last-second shots by Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA playoffs are getting to be old hat.
The former Iowa State star’s last-second go-ahead basket lifted the Pacers to a 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
The Pacers are trying to win their first NBA title. Indiana does have three ABA titles, won in 1970, 1972 and 1973.
Haliburton is also trying to become the second Cyclones player to win an NBA title. The first was one of his former teammates, Talen Horton-Tucker. He won his ring with the Los Angeles Lakers as a rookie during the 2019-20 season.
How Tyrese Haliburton Won NBA Finals Game 1 for Pacers
The Pacers had to rally to win Game 1 on Oklahoma City’s home floor. With two minutes to go, the Pacers were down eight points. After the Thunder missed a basket that would have given them a 3-point lead in the final seconds, the Pacers rebounded and set off a break that eventually got the ball to Haliburton.
After getting the ball, he dribbled right, got inside the foul line, created a little space and then sent Pacers fans to heaven.
His basket dropped with 0.3 seconds left. The Thunder tried to answer at the other end but were unable to get a basket away.
Haliburton finished Game 1 with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, as six different Pacers were in double figures.
The dramatic basket — Haliburton’s fifth go-ahead or game-winner in the final seconds of these playoffs — drew the attention of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
He played two seasons at Iowa State, where he helped the Cyclones to a Big 12 Tournament title his freshman year. He missed part of his sophomore year due to an injury and then opted for the NBA Draft.
Selected in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, he was third in rookie of the year voting, has been named an All-Star twice and was All-NBA Third Team last season. The Kings traded him to the Pacers in his second year in the league.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
