Oklahoma City (AP) – You are Tyrese Halliburton.
Last year, you made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but faced a tough defeat. I represented at the Olympics last summer, albeit with little playtime. Coming into this season with high hopes, your Indiana Pacers started at 10-15, and some of your NBA contemporaries are starting to label you as overrated.
This fueled your anger.
“As a team, we take everything to heart,” Halliburton shared. “It’s not solely on me; it’s the entire group. That determination is in our DNA.”
That anger transformed into focus, which fostered confidence, culminating in a 1-0 series lead in the NBA Finals. Halliburton’s last-second heroics came into play Thursday night. His jumper with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock secured a thrilling 111-110 victory for the Pacers, much to the delight of numerous Oklahoma City Thunder fans.
The Pacers led the game by a mere 0.0001%. Yet, that was more than enough.
“When it comes to the clutch moments, he wants the ball,” stated Pacers teammate Miles Turner. “He embraces those moments, and it’s crucial to have a player who steps up as our go-to guy. He consistently finds ways to make the right plays.”
Halliburton is a perfect 4-4 in the final two seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime during these playoffs, with all those shots either clinching victories or forcing overtime.
In contrast, the rest of the NBA has a combined record of 4-26 in similar situations this spring.
“You can’t fabricate that,” remarked Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark, likely the only Indiana player more celebrated than Halliburton in recent memory, as she posted on X right after he hit his latest thrilling shot.
Though Halliburton may have missed some shots in the earlier parts of these playoffs, he remains a clutch performer in crucial moments, boasting a 7-1 record when the game is on the line.
“I refuse to depend on other teams’ star players,” he said.
No, especially when that star player happens to be Halliburton himself. Just ask Milwaukee, Cleveland, or New York. They all expected to receive THE shot when the game was on the line in Oklahoma City. What could possibly happen?
Against the Bucks on April 29th, he nailed a layup with 1.4 seconds remaining, capping a 7-point run in the final 34.6 seconds of overtime. Final score: Pacers 119, Bucks 118, thereby concluding that series.
On May 6th in Cleveland, he delivered a 3-pointer with just 1.1 seconds left, sealing a 120-119 win after overcoming a 7-point deficit in 48 seconds. On May 21st, the Pacers were down 121-112 at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks with 51.1 seconds left, where he sank a jumper just before time expired, forcing overtime, and Indiana secured another win.
All of these pivotal moments featured an extra layer of excitement. His father, John Halliburton, was a bit overly enthusiastic with Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Bucks game, resulting in a brief ban from the next few matches, which was later lifted. Furthermore, Halliburton showcased a particular dance move that the NBA found less than favorable after his shot against the Cavaliers. He made a chalk signal reminiscent of Pacers legend Reggie Miller before hitting a shot over the Knicks.
But come Thursday night, it was all serious business. With many games still ahead in the finals, he understands the journey ahead. Game 2 is slated for Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
“Yes, we executed another significant comeback, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Halliburton noted. “This is just one game against the best team in the NBA; they rarely lose. We expect their response, and we need to prepare accordingly. We have a few days to review the tape and identify areas for improvement.”
Halliburton is currently in the first year of a Supermax contract, set to earn around $245 million over the term. He clinched an Olympic gold last summer and is a strong candidate to join Team USA again for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Moreover, he has emerged as a certified postseason, late-game hero.
With three more victories required to capture an NBA Championship, the fire of competition is evident. Halliburton was all smiles after Game 1, and for good reason.
“Absolute, unwavering confidence,” Turner remarked. “There are players who claim to have it, yet others truly display it, and he’s not shy about sharing that. That’s why I respect him so much—he’s a true baller and gamer.”
During his debut in the NBA Finals, Halliburton was sure to remind everyone of that fact.
“This group will never back down,” Halliburton asserted. “We don’t believe a game is over until the score hits zero. That’s the unwavering truth. Our confidence as a group is essential, and that’s a significant reason for our success.”
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Source: apnews.com