Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers continue to make headlines in the NBA Finals. On Wednesday, they secured a 2-1 series lead with a strong 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Wednesday night, Haliburton once again delivered an outstanding all-around performance while helping the Pacers take control of the series.
Haliburton’s motivation in this Finals series is the presence of his father, who recently returned to support him after serving a suspension from the Pacers organization. The father-son duo is no stranger to drawing attention.
During Game 3, they found themselves in the spotlight once again for a humorous exchange caught by a hot mic. After the game, Haliburton approached his father. At that moment, he couldn’t help but joke about his dad’s fashion choice.
“You’re out of pocket for those jeans,” Hali said.
Tyrese Haliburton to his dad pre-game:
“You’re outta pocket for them jeans.”
h/t @cjzero
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 12, 2025
Haliburton finished the night with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists, shooting 9-for-17 from the field and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. Remarkably, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game without attempting a single free throw. His efficiency and leadership have been critical to Indiana’s success so far in the series.
Tyrese Haliburton Keeps It Real in Post-Game Interview
Following the Game 3 victory, Haliburton was asked in a post-game interview about how he planned to celebrate with his father, who was in attendance. True to form, Haliburton responded with humor.
“Nah, I’m going to go say what’s up, and he’s going to go home. He’s out of pocket for those jeans, but other than that, it’s good to see him out here,” Hali said.
With a 2-1 lead in the series, the Pacers are in a strong position. Historically, teams that take a 2-1 advantage in the NBA Finals go on to win the championship 81 percent of the time. The next test comes Friday night in Indiana, where Haliburton and the Pacers will look to extend their lead and inch closer to an elusive title.
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