The NBA Finals tipped off last Thursday, and the Pacers pulled off a historic comeback to win the opening game against the Thunder, all orchestrated by the hands of Tyrese Haliburton, who sealed the victory with a mid-range jumper.

With just 10 seconds left on the clock, Indiana grabbed a rebound, pushed the ball upcourt, and handed it off to Haliburton, who used a quick fake to create space and hit a clutch two-pointer that stunned the city of Oklahoma.

Indiana Erupted With the Game-Winning Shot

That shot sent Indiana into a frenzy. Fans followed the game across the city, and the Pacers even opened Gainbridge Fieldhouse so supporters could watch together. When the final buzzer sounded, chaos and celebration took over the arena.

Restaurants around the city experienced the same euphoria after Haliburton’s basket, with hugs and cheers erupting in a town hungry for its first NBA title.

A Comeback for the History Books

The Pacers have become experts at rallying from behind to steal wins. During the Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks all fell victim to stunning comebacks by the Eastern Conference squad.

Indiana made history in the NBA Finals: since 1971, all teams trailing by nine or more points with under three minutes left had gone on to lose. A total of 182 teams failed to break that streak until now, as the Eastern Conference champions rewrote the script.