Game 1 at Madison Square Garden was supposed to be painted white and orange. The New York Knicks were cruising with a three-point lead after three quarters, looking primed to close it out.
But just when the night seemed to belong to the Knicks, Tyrese Haliburton flipped the script, and in a way nobody could’ve predicted. What followed wasn’t just a wild finish to a playoff game; it was pure cinematic chaos that left fans stunned and the NBA on TNT crew completely losing it.
Tyrese Haliburton Surprised Everyone With His Last-Moment Shot
With just seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Indiana Pacers trailing 125-123, Haliburton had the ball in his hands — and magic in his veins. The shot he took — a deep, off-balance 2-pointer — was absurd.
The ball kissed the rim, popped up into the air, and somehow dropped through the net. It was the kind of shot you dream of hitting in your driveway as a kid. Haliburton did it under the lights at MSG, and the Pacers forced overtime, where they pulled off a stunning 138-135 win.
Back in the studio, the “Inside the NBA” crew’s reaction was priceless. Draymond Green, joining the show as a guest analyst, gasped, “Oh my God.” Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson were speechless. None of them could believe what they had just seen.
But it wasn’t just the shot that had people talking. It was what Haliburton did after. He looked toward the Knicks’ bench and hit them with the infamous “choke” gesture, a nod to Pacers legend Reggie Miller, who did the same thing to Spike Lee during a classic 1994 playoff showdown.
The Fellas couldn't BELIEVE Haliburton's game-tying shot 😱 pic.twitter.com/f8FSNGvrbn
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT)
This wasn’t a solo act. Haliburton had the night of his life, finishing with 31 points and a series of highlight-reel plays. But he had help. Aaron Nesmith stepped up in a big way, scoring 30 points and playing with intensity on both ends of the court.
It was the kind of game that reminds you why basketball is special and why TNT’s NBA broadcast remains one of the best shows in sports. When something wild happens, watching those guys react might just be the second-best part of the night.
Haliburton Was Proud That He Didn’t ‘Waste’ the Celebration Gesture
Haliburton’s “choke” gesture might be the most iconic moment of the Pacers’ playoff run so far. It lit up social media and MSG alike, but for a second, Haliburton wasn’t sure it was the right time.
Speaking with Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter after the win, Haliburton admitted he had second thoughts about making the gesture. He said he was nervous the Pacers might blow the game in overtime, which would’ve made the celebration look premature — or worse, backfire.
Luckily, Indiana rallied and sealed the comeback in OT, turning the celebration into a perfect exclamation mark instead of a regret.
“I was sick, I was just hoping, I was like ‘I gotta make sure I didn’t waste the celly. I knew that the celly would be needed at some point here. And, I was like ‘Man, I think I wasted it.’ But we won, so it’s pretty cool. And to do it with Miller in this building is very special,” said Haliburton.
Through the 2024–25 postseason, Haliburton has been steady and impressive, averaging 18.7 points and 9.5 assists per game. He and the Pacers now look ahead to Game 2 against the Knicks on Friday, May 23, hoping to ride the momentum from one of the most dramatic wins of the year.
