In the high-stakes theater of the NBA Playoffs, where legends are forged and legacies cemented, a new narrative is unfolding. Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers is currently authoring a clutch performance run that is not merely impressive; it`s historically significant, challenging statistical benchmarks once thought exclusive to basketball`s pantheon.
A Streak Unseen: Clutch Shots for the Ages
Since the NBA began meticulously tracking play-by-play data in the 1996-97 season, the annals of clutch heroics have been rich with iconic moments. For nearly three decades, LeBron James held the undisputed record for most postseason shots to either tie or take the lead in the final three seconds of regulation or overtime, accumulating eight such moments across his illustrious career. Before the current 2025 postseason, no other player had managed more than four.
Enter Tyrese Haliburton. In the 2025 playoffs alone, he has already notched four such pivotal shots. What makes this feat truly extraordinary is its unprecedented distribution: Haliburton has delivered one of these game-altering shots in each of the four rounds this postseason. This includes critical plays against the Milwaukee Bucks (Game 5), the Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 2), and the New York Knicks (Game 1). To put this into perspective, even Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the ultimate clutch performer, only completed his “bingo card” of making such a shot in each round by his second-to-last postseason appearance in the 1997 NBA Finals. LeBron James, with his two decades in the league, has yet to achieve this particular sweep.
This singular-season accomplishment by Haliburton prompts an unavoidable question: Is this the most clutch playoff run in NBA history?
The Numbers Don`t Lie: A Statistical Anomaly
While the eye test offers compelling evidence, advanced analytics further solidify Haliburton`s case. Expanding the window slightly to the final 90 seconds of games, Haliburton has made six shots to tie or take the lead this postseason—another record for the play-by-play era.
A metric like “Clutch Win Probability Added” (C-WPA), which quantifies the extra wins a player contributes in clutch situations, paints an even clearer picture. During this postseason, Haliburton`s clutch shooting has added an estimated 2.48 wins for the Pacers. The closest contender in the play-by-play era was LeBron James in 2013, with 1.86 C-WPA. The gap is significant, suggesting a level of clutch impact previously unmatched, almost as if he’s bending statistical reality to his will.
Consider the sheer improbability of the Pacers` clutch victories this season. In the four games where Haliburton delivered these defining shots, the Pacers` win probability at their lowest point ranged from a mere 3% (Finals Game 1) down to an astonishing 0.3% (Eastern Conference Finals Game 1). The calculated odds of Indiana winning all four of these statistically dire situations? Approximately one-in-75 million. This isn`t just winning; it`s defying statistical gravity.
Moreover, the NBA`s official definition of `clutch` – the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime with a scoring margin within five points – further underscores the Pacers` collective brilliance. Indiana has participated in nine official clutch games this postseason, emerging victorious in eight. Their astounding 88.9% clutch winning percentage stands as the highest in the play-by-play era for any team playing at least nine such games.
More Than Just Buckets: The Maestro`s Touch
While individual scoring often dominates the clutch narrative, Haliburton`s contribution extends beyond sheer point totals. His 33 clutch points this postseason, while respectable, are not designed to outshine high-volume scorers like Jalen Brunson, who amassed 56. Instead, Haliburton acts as a true floor general, orchestrating opportunities for his teammates with precision and foresight.
His remarkable 8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the clutch moments of these playoffs is a testament to his decision-making under immense pressure. The Pacers, playing nearly 89 clutch minutes, have committed a mere three turnovers. Contrast this with the Knicks, who, in almost 64 clutch minutes, turned the ball over 14 times. This demonstrates a crucial insight: Haliburton`s teams simply do not waste clutch possessions. They consistently get a quality shot, a hallmark of elite offensive execution. It`s less about being the sole scorer and more about being the unerring conductor, ensuring the orchestra hits every note perfectly when the stakes are highest. A masterclass in controlled chaos, if you will.
Legacies Compared: A Crown Awaits
Any discussion of the greatest clutch playoff runs inevitably invokes comparisons to basketball`s titans. From the play-by-play era, three seasons frequently appear on the mythical shortlist:
- 1998 Michael Jordan: Leading a Bulls team on its last legs, with Scottie Pippen injured and Dennis Rodman fading, Jordan delivered 76 clutch points and dragged them to a championship. His 8-6 clutch record might seem modest, but the context of an aging dynasty makes it monumental.
- 2007 LeBron James: While not culminating in a championship, James`s performance, particularly his 25 clutch points in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons, saw him almost single-handedly carry a “laughable” supporting cast to the NBA Finals. His 14-to-1 clutch assist-to-turnover ratio that year showcased his dual threat.
- 2011 Dirk Nowitzki: A near-flawless clutch run, Nowitzki`s 66 points on an astonishing 54-60-97 shooting split led the Mavericks to their first and only championship against a gauntlet of superstars. Dallas won his 49.6 clutch minutes by a dominant 73 total points.
Haliburton`s individual clutch statistics this postseason, particularly his unprecedented streak of late-game heroics, already place him firmly in the conversation, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 2007 LeBron as a “surprise finalist.” However, the distinguishing factor that elevates Jordan`s `98 and Nowitzki`s `11 runs to legendary status is the ultimate prize: the NBA championship. That final, most demanding piece of hardware remains elusive for Haliburton, for now.
The Intangible Edge: Demoralizing Opponents
Beyond the statistics and the trophy, Haliburton`s clutch wizardry carries a profound psychological weight. To opponents, losing a game that was mathematically a near-certain victory can be utterly demoralizing. Such defeats can breed doubt, tighten play, and subtly shift momentum within a series. Only a select few players in NBA history have consistently wielded this intangible power over their adversaries in the playoffs. Haliburton, it appears, has joined this elite group. One might even suggest he`s perfected the art of snatching victory from the jaws of statistical certainty, leaving rivals to ponder what might have been.
Conclusion: A Legacy in the Making
Tyrese Haliburton is tantalizingly close to etching his name into the undisputed top tier of clutch playoff performers. Just three wins separate him from a championship, a prize he can secure on his home court. Should he lead the Pacers, a No. 4 seed, to conquer a formidable 68-win Thunder team—marking his third consecutive series victory without home-court advantage—his resume would become, quite simply, unimpeachable.
While he may not compile scoring totals rivalling Jordan or Nowitzki, his comprehensive impact on these high-stakes games cannot be overstated. He transforms mathematical certainties into miraculous victories, imbuing his team with an unshakeable belief and leaving opponents questioning their own destiny. If he can indeed “pull this off,” delivering a championship under these specific, improbable circumstances, the debate over the greatest clutch playoff run in NBA history might just find its newest, most compelling argument, forever intertwining his name with the very definition of playoff clutch.
