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Dwyane Wade Sends Clear Message to Tyrese Haliburton After NBA Finals Game Winner

Game 1 of the NBA Finals looked like it was heading toward a blowout as the Oklahoma City Thunder built a 12-point halftime lead over the Indiana Pacers and extended it to 15 with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

But if the Pacers have shown anything this postseason, it's that they should never be counted out—no matter the deficit.

Indiana clawed back with key defensive stops, clutch shots from Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner, and ultimately a game-winner from their star, Tyrese Haliburton, who buried a deep mid-range jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining to give the Pacers their first—and only—lead of the night, 111–110.

Following the dramatic comeback, three-time NBA champion and Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade didn’t hesitate to praise Haliburton, officially declaring him a “superstar.”

“Haliburton is a [explicit] superstar,” Wade said. “Like, it ain’t no question no more. To take that shot—and to make that shot—he’s a cold [explicit].”

Wade continued: “Everybody that’s played basketball, if you’ve ever picked up a basketball, you’ve dreamed of that game-winner in the biggest game of your life. He just hit a game-winner in the Finals. Y’all better stop playing with Haliburton. I’m getting a jersey. His clutch gene is what we all want in life.”

Haliburton has now hit four go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of playoff games throughout his career—the second-most since 1997, trailing only LeBron James, who has seven.

While he didn’t have his most dominant scoring night, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 6-for-13 shooting from the field, he once again proved that he thrives in the biggest moments.

His clutch gene has been on full display this postseason, helping propel the Pacers to the NBA Finals—and now, they sit just three wins away from being crowned NBA champions for the first time in franchise history.

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