Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Ready to Shock the World With "House Money"

‘We’re playing with house money’: Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Out to Prove Point in NBA Finals

The Indiana Pacers are making waves in the NBA Finals, defying expectations and embracing their underdog status. Led by the dynamic Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers secured a thrilling Game 1 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by Haliburton's clutch game-winning shot. But this is more than just one game; it's a statement from a team determined to prove their doubters wrong.

Before the game, John Haliburton, Tyrese's father, confidently predicted a Pacers victory. As it turned out, he was right on the money. His son delivered a stunning mid-range jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining, securing a 111-110 comeback win against the heavily favored Thunder.

Key Highlights from Game 1:

• Haliburton's game-winning shot marked the Pacers' only lead of the entire game.
• The Pacers overcame 25 turnovers and a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit.
• They outscored the Thunder 35-25 in the final quarter, silencing even a 38-point performance by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

This victory is just the latest in a series of remarkable comebacks for the Pacers. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, they have consistently demonstrated their resilience and ability to overcome adversity.

Remarkable Comebacks:

• Regular Season: Recovered from deficits of 22 points against the LA Clippers, 19 points against Washington, and a franchise-record 27 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Playoffs: Rallied from a 20-point deficit against Milwaukee in the first round, and from 20- and 19-point deficits against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They also recovered from a 17-point deficit against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Thursday's game was the Pacers' fifth comeback victory from a deficit of 15 or more points in these playoffs, the most by a team in a single postseason since 1998.

Guard Aaron Nesmith attributes this comeback ability to their mindset during the regular season. "We just looked at it as practice – practice to prepare for these moments," he told Andscape.

Haliburton's game-winner was his fourth go-ahead or game-tying field goal in the final 5 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in the playoffs this season. Since the 1998 playoffs, only LeBron James (eight) has more such field goals. The Pacers are now 8-1 in "clutch" games in the 2025 playoffs.

Despite the excitement of the win, the Pacers' locker room remained focused and business-like. Haliburton explained, "Ain’t nobody expected us to win this [expletive] anyway. So, what’s the point of tripping? We are playing with house money, really. We have been playing with house money all playoffs."

Head coach Rick Carlisle echoed this sentiment: "We’ve just got to be very much present in the moment and know what this is all about. This is all about keeping poise and at the same time having a high level of aggression."

Haliburton and the Pacers are motivated by the constant doubt and disrespect they feel they've faced. He pointed to their Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, which was dismissed due to a sweep by the Boston Celtics, and his limited playing time during the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also noted the criticism he received after being voted the most overrated player in an NBA player poll.

“If you have a run like last [season] and get swept in the Eastern Conference finals and all the conversation is about how you don’t belong there, how you lucked out to get there and it was a fluke, guys are going to be pissed/////////// off. They are going to spend the summer pissed/////////// off,” Haliburton said.

This season, the Pacers are determined to prove they belong. They embrace the underdog role, fueled by a collective desire to silence their critics.

With a history lacking an NBA title since joining the league in 1976, the Pacers are hungry for success. Their last NBA Finals appearance was in 2000, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, they have a chance to write a new chapter in franchise history.

John Haliburton's faith in his son and the Pacers runs deep. "God’s hands are all over this team," he declared. "Open your eyes world and see God’s blessings. No one can stop that. If God is for you, who can be [against] you?"

The Indiana Pacers are not just playing basketball; they're playing with purpose and conviction. Their journey in the NBA Finals is a testament to their resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in themselves. Whether they ultimately win or lose, they've already proven that they're a force to be reckoned with.

Tags: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder, Game-Winning Shot, Basketball, Aaron Nesmith, NBA, Paycom Center, John Haliburton

Source: https://andscape.com/features/were-playing-with-house-money-tyrese-haliburton-pacers-out-to-prove-point-in-nba-finals/