Halliburton talks about the Pacers last finals, making some fans feel old

Tyres Halliburton's remarks in the NBA Finals reminded Pacers fans of the team's 25-year "dream year", which triggered a generation of reflection.

The Indiana Pacers narrowly defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 in Game 3, taking the initiative in the 2025 NBA Finals. They eventually won the game, driven by Tyres Halliburton's nearly triple-double performance and Benedict Mathulin's breakthrough performance. But Halliburton's comments after the game may impress fans more than anything that happens on the field.

"I was only 3 months old the last time the Pacers reached the Finals. Our fans were eager for victory, man... we just wanted to give the fans something to be proud of," Halliburton said in an interview with NBA TV after his third big win. The Pacers last reached the Finals 25 years ago - it was in 2000 when legendary stars like Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson were leading the Pacers forward. That final ended in a loss to the Lakers, but fans still recalled that game affectionately, and they realized that time had passed so long. The history of the Pacers is being rewritten by a new generation of players. Halliburton was born in February 2000 and is 25 years old, leading the Indiana revival. For those 30-year-old fans during the 2000 Finals, they are now 55 years old, which makes them more deeply aware of the team's downturn. And for younger fans, this is the first time they have seen this team on the biggest stage in the league. The third game is of great significance. Halliburton scored 22 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. Mathurin, who came on the bench, made 9 of 12 shots and scored 27 points. The Pacers' showdown against the Thunder turned the focus of the game to Indiana, who are currently leading 2-1 with a fourth game starting this Friday.

Indiana's substitute defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 49-18. TJ McConnell made Finals history with 10 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. Obi Topin's vitality helped the Pacers dominate the fourth quarter, defeating the Thunder 32-18 and forcing their opponents to take advantage of the turnover to score 21 points.

But in addition to data, Halliburton's famous saying, representing the times, symbolizes the deeper things - the transmission of torches. The Pacers no longer pursue nostalgia – they are creating their own brilliant moments.

With Indianapolis ushering in this historic round of victory, one thing is clear—Halliburton’s leadership bridges the gap between the past and the present, and fans of all ages are ready to trust the team again.