Tyrese Haliburton is getting love from everyone in the National Basketball Association after making another game-winning or game-tying shot in this playoffs.
He silenced every Thunder fan at the Paycom Center on Thursday with a game-winning bucket — guiding the Pacers to snatching the opening matchup of the NBA Finals. Haliburton lifted Indiana to a 111-110 victory and has Dwayne Wade referring to him as a ‘f***ing superstar’ and a ‘cold motherf*****.’
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“Haliburton is a f***** superstar. I’m going to get a jersey. I need it signed.” @DwyaneWade reflects on the Pacers 4th Quarter comeback and Haliburton’s game winner in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. ???? pic.twitter.com/2fHiltyk5c
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) June 6, 2025
However, two individuals saw Thursday as the ‘strangest game from start to finish.’
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe of the Ringer Podcast cannot seem to understand how the Pacers won. Indiana did not play well as it trailed 57-45 at halftime, yet it found a way to win. It also had 24 turnovers to OKC’s six, but the Thunder could not take advantage of opportunities. Simmons and Lowe believe NBA fans have a series on its hands after Indiana stole game one.
“It’s the strangest game I’ve ever watched, I think, start to finish.”@BillSimmons and @ZachLowe_NBA are in disbelief over Indiana’s stunning Game 1 upset of the NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/P6TCisrBvI
— The Ringer (@ringer) June 6, 2025
“I have come to the conclusion that I just don’t get the Indiana Pacers,” Lowe said.
“I don’t get how they do this. I don’t get how there is at least one game every series where they do this. It’s Haliburton at the end of every game with the last shot emerging. I mean, the number of clutch shots he’s made this season in this playoffs. This is like an all-time legendary crunch time heater and he did not even play that well in the course of the game. And all everyone is going to remember is the last shot. The Pacers are unbelievable. It was weird because it was weird the whole time. It was weird … like how do they have 19 turnovers in the first half and they are not getting run out of the building? It was like between 11 and 13 the whole game. I just can’t believe Indiana won that game.”
Shaquille O’Neal said in his postgame presser on NBA TV that it does wonders for Indiana’s confidence when you don’t play well, but you still win. The Pacers know it did not have its best performance, but it pulled out a road victory.
Game 2 is Sunday and we will if Indiana keeps the momentum going.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
