Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

“They’re Calling Him Hali Curry” – Tyrese Haliburton’s NBA Finals Game Winner Shocks Fans and Celebs As Caitlin Clark, Patrick Mahomes & More React

NBA Finals 2025 Game 1 goes down to the wire, and Tyrese Haliburton walks off a hero as social media goes into meltdown.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

What a start we’ve had to the 2025 NBA Finals. Indiana Pacers and the OKC Thunder put up a perfect thriller on the display for the fans. Moreover, the game went on till the final millisecond as any result was possible by that time.

Tyrese Haliburton delivered yet another cold-blooded dagger to seal Game 1 in dramatic fashion. As Shai Alexander-Gilgeous missed a two pointer, Tyrese drove on the other side and made a push back shot to take a 1 point lead. This was not Halliburton’s only game winner this season, rather the guard has flipped the script with multiple such game winners especially in the playoffs.

Fans, celebs, athletes, and analysts alike erupted with disbelief after Haliburton’s ice-cold dagger. Many including Caitlin Clark showcased their disbelief at what just happened at the Paycom Center on Thursday night. Here’s how social media exploded after Haliburton’s Game 1 moment:

Reactions –

Helly!?!?
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) June 6, 2025

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH

TYRESE HALIBIGSHOT

Let’s GOOOOOOOOO @TyHaliburton22 pic.twitter.com/uEMCL3I2Db
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 6, 2025

What a damn win for the Pacers. The others kept them a float and that damn Haliburton tucked them in. Jesus Christ
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 6, 2025

WTHALI IS CLUTCH! https://t.co/0C7iuFCoOi
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) June 6, 2025

YOU CANT MAKE IT UP 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) June 6, 2025

Tyrese freaking Haliburton.

Wow. #NBAFinals2025
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) June 6, 2025

Tyrese Haliburton does it again!!! 🤯
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 6, 2025

“SUPERSTAR! SUPERSTAR!”

Dwyane Wade’s LIVE REACTION of the Tyrese Haliburton Game Winner😳 pic.twitter.com/UgqSrZp2Cn
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) June 6, 2025

Stephen A. Smith calls Tyrese Haliburton ‘Hali Curry’

NBA Analyst Stephen A. Smith was less surprised about what Tyrese Haliburton managed to do on Thursday. He was full of praise for the 26-year-old and also made a comparison with Steph Curry highlighting his talent to rise in big moments.

Stephen A. Smith said, “You can never count them out. They look like an AA squad going up against an NBA squad in the first half. It was absolutely pathetic. They literally looked petrified because the ill advised passes you were throwing bounce passes to a seven footer’s foot. I thought Haliburton looked like a deer in headlights for most of this game.

He added, “But when it really counted, he made the shots. Haliburton got five out five winners. They’re calling him Hali Curry right now. That’s what they’re calling him right now. The brother shows up when it counts the most. Give him credit where credit is due.”

Despite a quiet night scoring-wise, Tyrese Haliburton seized the spotlight with the shot that mattered most. He managed to score just 14 points in the 111-110 win but all that mattered was his last game winner shot. The Indiana Pacers play their next NBA game against OKC on Sunday.