Tyrese Haliburton sent the basketball world into a frenzy by hitting the game-winner for the Indiana Pacers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Pacers icon Reggie Miller was watching the action unfold from his house with his family, and he shared their reaction to the game-winner on Instagram.
“I think this was all of Pacers Nation at the closing of Game 1!!! Well done, Tyrese Haliburton.”
Reggie Miller shares his reaction to Tyrese Haliburton’s game winning shot on his IG Story. pic.twitter.com/hci2PgbG8O
— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) June 6, 2025
That might have been the reaction for a majority of the neutrals following the game as well. It was a magical moment on the biggest stage by a player who is making a habit of hitting big shots in the playoffs.
Haliburton has now made four go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime in this postseason. This fourth one was a long two-pointer over Thunder guard Cason Wallace that put the Pacers up 111-110 with 0.3 seconds remaining. It was their first lead of the night and would be the final score as well.
Prior to this, Haliburton had made the game-tying buzzer-beater at the end of regulation against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Miller was calling that game for TNT at Madison Square Garden, and Haliburton decided to pay tribute by recreating his iconic choke celebration after that shot.
Haliburton thought he had won the game with a three-pointer, but realized later that his toe was on the line. The Pacers would go on to win in overtime, to spare his blushes.
Miller certainly was a happy man that night, and he probably wishes he was calling the Finals as well. Getting to watch the games with his family and having moments like this is quite special, too, though.
For his career, Haliburton has now made five go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime in the playoffs. That is tied with Miller for the second-most since the 1997 playoffs, with only LeBron James (eight) ahead of them.
It’s safe to say that the Pacers have found their heir apparent to Miller. It will be interesting to see if Haliburton can pull off what Miller couldn’t, which is to win the title.
Miller led the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals, where they took on a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. They battled hard in that series but would ultimately lose in six games.
Haliburton’s Pacers have already done something that Miller’s didn’t. That team had fallen down 2-0 to the Lakers and never led in the series, while this one is up 1-0. Belief is growing among fans that this could be the year that they finally win their first NBA title.
Miller and his family’s reaction to this win isn’t the only one that has gone viral. A clip of fans at Indianapolis International Airport going wild after Haliburton’s shot spread like wildfire on social media.
IND Airport >>>> other airports pic.twitter.com/HjcdYWkKe2
— Barstool IU (@IUBarstool) June 6, 2025
Sports can bring people together in a way that few things can. Seeing all these strangers celebrating together was quite special. They’d be hoping to celebrate again when the Pacers take on the Thunder in Game 2 at Paycom Center on Sunday at 8 PM ET.
