Tyrese Haliburton delivered a stunning buzzer-beater that helped the Indiana Pacers secure a miraculous Game 1 victory against the New York Knicks in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. Although his shot tied the game at the buzzer because his toe was on the three-point line, it ultimately propelled the Pacers to a win in overtime.

This moment drew immediate comparisons to Kevin Durant’s similar buzzer-beater during the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals while playing for the Brooklyn Nets. Durant’s shot in Game 7 also had his toe on the line, which tied the game rather than winning it outright, sending the contest into overtime.

Comparison of Crucial Buzzer-Beaters by Haliburton and Durant

Kevin Durant’s missed three-point buzzer-beater in 2021 is remembered as a pivotal moment that influenced the outcome of that playoff series. The Brooklyn Nets went on to lose in overtime to the Milwaukee Bucks, ending their postseason run. In contrast, Haliburton’s similar shot was a rare instance where the overtime period swung in his team’s favor, giving the Pacers a 2-0 lead in the series.

The fate of both teams heavily relied on these split-second moments. Had Haliburton’s shot not kept the Pacers alive in regulation, the Knicks might have seized momentum heading into the next games. Conversely, Durant’s foot on the line prevented the Nets from advancing, altering the trajectory of that season’s playoffs.

Haliburton Acknowledges the Kevin Durant Parallel

In a postgame interview with TNT’s Reggie Miller, Haliburton acknowledged the striking similarity to Durant’s famous misstep, highlighting his own disbelief at the foot placement on the line. Haliburton said,

“

This is my KD moment right here, right? Foot’s on the line. I thought for sure I got back,

”

underscoring the tension of that critical shot.

Long-Term Implications of the Buzzer-Beater Moments

Durant’s 2021 shot is etched in NBA lore as a “what-if” that could have changed the course of multiple playoff rounds. Had Durant’s shot counted, the Nets would have moved to the Eastern Conference Finals, potentially reshaping the championship landscape. The Bucks instead capitalized on that overtime win and went on to claim the title.

Similarly, Haliburton’s buzzer-beater proved to be a defining factor in the Pacers’ 2025 postseason run, giving them momentum and a psychological edge over the Knicks. The significance of these critical shots is a reminder that in the NBA playoffs, inches and milliseconds can alter legacies and team fortunes.