Tyrese Haliburton has lit up the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He walks onto the court with confidence, and he never looks back. Tyrese Haliburton has nailed go-ahead game-winners in each of the four playoff rounds. That’s a first in NBA history. That’s an insanely exclusive record to have to his name. In terms of clutch performances, he’s officially put together one of the great playoff runs.
Tyrese Haliburton Sets An Insane ‘Game-winners’ Record Against The Thunder
First-Round Heroics
In the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, Haliburton took over late in Game 3. He drove into traffic, drew contact, and completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left. The Indiana Pacers held on for a 119–118 win.
He hugged his teammates. Fans roared. Sports talk shows buzzed about “the guy with ice in his veins.”
Winning in the Semifinals
Next up: the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Semifinals. Game 2 was at the 27.5 mark. The Pacers intercepted the Cavs’ inbound pass down three. With under 13 seconds remaining, Haliburton drew a foul on a drive to the rim. He scored the first then purposely missed the second one. Haliburton somehow secured the rebound, reset the offense, dribbled down the clock then drained a three-pointer with less than two seconds in regulation.
He sprinted down the court, arms in a “big balls celebration”. His teammates mobbed him after the buzzer. The home crowd was stunned. He’d become the guy everyone feared in crunch time.
Taking the Conference Finals
The Conference Finals pitted Indiana against the New York Knicks. In Game 1, with 7.1 seconds on the clock in a tied game, Haliburton launched a jumper over Mitchell Robinson. Not exactly a swish but more of a doink-doink. The ball bounced on the rim up into the rafters but then back down through the basket. Haliburton thought he had stolen the game with a three-pointer.
Haliburton recreated Reggie Miller’s infamous choke gesture. However, it turned out that his foot was on the line. Still, the Pacers steeled their nerves and finished the comeback in overtime with a 138-135 win.
A Finals Moment for the Ages
Finally, the NBA Finals arrived. Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The score read 109–110. Haliburton dribbled into the right elbow, rose up for a 21-foot jumper over Cason Wallace, and sunk it with just 0.3 seconds left. The Pacers took a 1–0 series lead with a 111–110 victory.
Another Big shot for Haliburton.
A Reputation Skyrockets
Before this postseason, Haliburton turned heads as a solid young guard. Nobody expected him to dominate every round like this. Now? He’s a household name. NBA analysts call him “Mr. Big Shot.” They debate where he ranks among all-time playoff performers.
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH
TYRESE HALIBIGSHOT
Let’s GOOOOOOOOO @TyHaliburton22 pic.twitter.com/uEMCL3I2Db
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 6, 2025
The Ringer just released their postseason top 100 list. Haliburton landed at a dizzying seventh overall. He outpaced veterans and All-Stars who’ve been in the league for years. Being top 10 on that ranking signals that the basketball world has taken notice.
Dominating the Numbers
Haliburton’s numbers tell the story, too. Over the playoffs, he’s averaging 18.8 ppg, 9.8 apg (the playoff lead), 5.7 rpg and 1.4 spg.
He’s not just a scorer. He orchestrates the offense. He grabs rebounds, sparks fast breaks, and disrupts opposing guards with his length and instincts.
His 9.8 assists prove he makes teammates better. Young stars love playing next to someone who can draw double teams and find them for open shots. Opponents hate defending him because he does it all.
Why This Matters
When you hit a game-winner in one series, people talk. Hit four? They call you legendary. Haliburton did it in all four rounds. The odds of that happening are astronomical. That fact alone cements a legacy few achieve—especially at just 25 years old.
Now that his reputation has soared, endorsements will follow. Fans will buy jerseys and posters. Social media mentions have spiked. Even casual viewers know his name. He isn’t just the face of the Pacers’ franchise; he could be the face of the league.
Tyrese Haliburton Makes An Exclusive Record With Another Game-winner
Haliburton’s 2025 playoffs read like a Hollywood script. He hit four game-winners across four rounds. He jumped to seventh on the Ringer’s top 100.
If Haliburton keeps this up, he could push the Pacers to an NBA title. Even if they fall short, he’s already won something bigger: respect. That clutch gene and versatility will keep him in conversations for future All-Star and All-NBA nods.
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