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'It's gotta be...': Tyrese Haliburton seemingly revealed the reason behind his stellar performance in Indiana Pacers' Finals Game 1 win
Tyrese Haliburton. Image via: Matthew Hinton/ AP
Tyrese Haliburton seized the spotlight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, lifting the Indiana Pacers to a dramatic 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. With just 0.3 seconds left, Haliburton sank the go-ahead jumper to give Indiana its first and only lead of the night, capping off a comeback that instantly became a part of Finals history.
But beyond the clutch basket, Haliburton may have given fans a cheeky hint at what fueled his standout night, most fay find it hard to guess but it was his brand-new signature sneakers.
Tyrese Haliburton hinted the reason behind his stellar performance in Finals Game 1 win against OKC Thunder
After the game, the Pacers guard, Tyrese Haliburton, placed his new Puma Hali 1s on the press conference table and smiled, 'It's gotta be the shoooeeesss.' The Hali 1s, released by PUMA just hours before tip-off, are Haliburton's first signature shoe and mark a major milestone in his fast-rising career.
Created in collaboration with renowned designer Salehe Bembury, the Hali 1s are a low-cut model featuring Haliburton's logo and a vibrant 'Hibiscus' colorway. The shoe's release comes less than a year after he parted ways with Nike and signed a massive multi-year deal with Puma in October 2024.
While the shoes won't be available at retail until September, Haliburton's on-court debut in them couldn't have been better timed.
He finished with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%), including two three-pointers. He was dominant on the boards, grabbing 10 defensive rebounds, and added six assists, a steal, two blocks, and just three turnovers in nearly 39 minutes of action. Most importantly, he delivered the biggest shot of the night to put Indiana ahead with less than a second remaining which was a dagger that stunned the crowd in Oklahoma City and sent shockwaves across the league.
The Pacers tied the largest fourth-quarter comeback in Finals history since 1971, erasing a 15-point deficit. It also marked the first one-point Finals victory since the Warriors edged the Raptors 106-105 in 2019. And for Indiana, it was their fifth 15+ point comeback this postseason— the most by any team in a single playoffs since 1998.
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Tyrese Haliburton sends a strong message after NBA finals Game 1 win against OKC Thunder
Haliburton's meteoric rise has been nothing short of electric. At 25, he's already a two-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA Third Team selection, and an Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024. Now, with Indiana back in the Finals for the first time since 2000.
