Indiana Pacers fans were left breathless on June 5 when a 111–110 nail-biter against the Oklahoma City Thunder ended with Tyrese Haliburton’s last-second jumper during Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. With only 0.3 seconds remaining, Haliburton rose for a mid-range shot that stunned the Thunder and sent Paycom Center into pandemonium.
Even more electric than the shot was a candid moment captured on camera afterward. Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, already looking forward to Game 2, exchanged words while heading to the locker room that immediately went viral.
Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam’s Candid Exchange After Game 1 Triumph
Moments after the final horn, ESPN cameras zoomed in on Haliburton and Siakam standing near their locker room, already dissecting the win. “Hell yeah, we did our job,” Haliburton told Siakam, his tone equal parts triumphant and reflective. “Let’s get greedy, man. We got so much to work on.”
Siakam, ever the steady voice, responded matter-of-factly, “We ain’t even play well.” These unfiltered remarks, shared by ESPN, spread across social media within minutes. It gave fans a glimpse into the mindset of two of the NBA’s most dynamic players.
“Let’s get greedy, man.”
“We didn’t even play well.”
Hali and Siakam have their eyes on Game 2 of the NBA Finals 👀 pic.twitter.com/3gZc0ZjiWo
— ESPN (@espn) June 6, 2025
To recap, the Thunder dominated much of Game 1 and were leading by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, poised to take a resounding 1–0 lead. Thunder’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 38 points, spearheading a potent offense that seemed to have seized control.
However, Indiana’s resilience, a hallmark of their playoff run, surfaced again. The Pacers orchestrated a furious rally, narrowing the 15-point deficit. By winning Game 1, the Pacers notched their fifth comeback victory after trailing by 15 points or more in the 2025 playoffs. It’s a playoff record since 1998.
Game 1 was the Pacers’ fifth comeback victory from a deficit of 15 or more points in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the most by a team in a single postseason since 1998. pic.twitter.com/tg2ldahGXO
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 6, 2025
Siakam knocked down two key three-pointers in the final five minutes and made a critical defensive stop on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that shifted momentum. Aaron Nesmith scored a double-double, and Siakam finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. But it was Haliburton’s late arrival that typified his postseason heroics.
With the Thunder up 110–109 after a failed lob attempt, Haliburton brought Indiana back to life. He caught a pass near the elbow and rose for a 21-foot jumper over a stretched arm. As the ball left his fingertips, the arena fell silent. When it dropped through, the Pacers’ bench stormed the court.
That shot, Indiana’s first lead of the entire game, reminded basketball fans about Michael Jordan’s 1997 game-winner final buzzer-beater.
Game 2 looms on June 8, with Indiana holding a 1–0 lead. The Pacers now aim to transform that transient advantage into sustained momentum. If Haliburton and Siakam’s viral postgame moment taught us anything, it’s that this Indiana team refuses to settle.
In the grand tapestry of Finals lore, Game 1 may be remembered as the contest where history almost repeated itself. Haliburton’s game-winner reverberated like a thunderclap, but it was the unguarded confidence shared with Siakam afterward that truly resonated.
