The Indiana Pacers are in the NBA Finals — and they’ve already made a statement. Thanks to a last-second dagger from Tyrese Haliburton in Game 1, the Pacers stole a stunning win on the road over the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was yet another clutch moment from a player whose postseason résumé is quickly becoming historic — and whose numbers are closing in on none other than LeBron James.
LeBron James still holds the crown when it comes to playoff clutch shots, leading the NBA with the most game-tying or go-ahead field goals in the final five seconds of postseason games since 1997. The four-time champion has knocked down 8 of those shots in 20 attempts, good for 40.0%, placing him atop a list filled with some of the greatest names in basketball history.
But Tyrese Haliburton is rewriting the definition of efficiency under pressure. In Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, with just 0.3 seconds left, Haliburton buried his fifth go-ahead or game-tying playoff shot in the final five seconds — giving Indiana a stunning 1–0 series lead and snatching home-court advantage from OKC in the process.
The Pacers’ rising star now ranks third all-time in clutch makes in those scenarios, but his efficiency is unmatched. Haliburton is 5-of-6 in such moments — an eye-popping 83.3% — and sits behind only LeBron James (8/20) and Reggie Miller (5/9) in total conversions. What separates Haliburton is that he’s done it more consistently and efficiently than almost anyone the league has seen.
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a game-tying basket in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Here’s the current Top 12 for clutch field goals (final five seconds, playoffs, since 1997):
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LeBron James reveals how the Pacers operate around Tyrese Haliburton following their Game 1 win vs Thunder
- LeBron James – 8/20 (40.0%)
- Reggie Miller – 5/9 (55.6%)
- Tyrese Haliburton – 5/6 (83.3%)
- Kobe Bryant – 4/18 (22.2%)
- Khris Middleton – 4/8 (50.0%)
- Paul Pierce – 3/14 (21.4%)
- Tim Duncan – 3/12 (25.0%)
- Manu Ginóbili – 3/10 (30.0%)
- Damian Lillard – 3/10 (30.0%)
- Ray Allen – 3/8 (37.5%)
- Jimmy Butler – 3/5 (60.0%)
- Trae Young – 3/3 (100.0%)
While players like Jimmy Butler and Trae Young boast impressive shooting percentages in the clutch, none have matched Haliburton’s volume or impact on this kind of stage. His 83.3% success rate dwarfs those of NBA icons such as Kobe Bryant (22.2%), Tim Duncan (25.0%), and Damian Lillard (30.0%).
Haliburton’s postseason has been nothing short of spectacular — and it shows no signs of slowing down. With Indiana playing unselfish, team-first basketball, the Pacers are not just chasing wins; they’re chasing history. A first-ever NBA title for the franchise is suddenly within reach.
