Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been buzzing this year like never before. First, it was the NBA Finals tied 1-1, and the city of Indianapolis finally hosted its first Finals game in 25 years. The crowd was already electric, and then the NFL legend Pat McAfee stormed in with a microphone and turned the place into pure chaos. “It’s been 9,126 days since the last time that this wonderful state has hosted the NBA Finals!” he roared. You could feel that number hit everyone in the chest. 9,126 days. A full generation of fans had been waiting for this moment, and McAfee made sure nobody forgot it. Fast forward to the WNBA Playoffs, and that same energy found its way back into the building, this time through Tyrese Haliburton.

Right before Caitlin Clark and the Fever tipped off, Haliburton grabbed the mic and gave Gainbridge Fieldhouse another shot of adrenaline. “It’s been 10 years since the Fever have played the playoff games here and we ain’t going outside. If there’s anything I know, there’s nothing like playoff basketball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. So everybody get your hands up, get on your feet, let’s go Fever!”

Haliburton’s pregame hype set the tone, and the Fever delivered, crushing Atlanta 77-60 to force a decisive Game 3. Kelsey Mitchell led with 19 points, Aliyah Boston added 15, Natasha Howard chipped in 12, and Makayla Timpson scored nine off the bench. Indiana’s defense smothered the Dream, holding them to 1-of-10 from deep in the first half and just 26% overall. The real spark came in the third quarter, usually a slump for the Fever, but this time they outscored Atlanta 24-15. The final 8.8 seconds were pure magic—Boston scored, Mitchell stole, Hull nailed a corner three, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted as Indy rode that momentum to the win. Now it all comes down to Thursday’s winner-take-all in Atlanta.

The same happened when McAfee lit that fuse—the Pacers went out and played like their hair was on fire, storming past the Thunder 116-107 to grab a 2-1 series lead. Tyrese Haliburton was brilliant, flirting with a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench blazing with 27. And when it came time to shut the door, the defense delivered, capped by Myles Turner’s jaw-dropping double-block on Chet Holmgren that sent Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a frenzy. Outscoring OKC 32-18 in the fourth, Indy looked every bit like a team ready to own the moment.

For Tyrese Haliburton, the bond with Indy runs deeper than basketball. He carried the Pacers to the Finals after 25 years, only to suffer an Achilles injury in Game 7. Still, his love for the city is clear: “I just feel like being in Indy, it’s a great place for me. Indy is a much bigger place than I’m even accustomed to… My whole family lives there now. We love being there.” He doesn’t crave the spotlight either, saying, “I don’t need the glitz and glamour of large city. I really like the hometown, small-town feel from our fans.” For Haliburton, it’s more than a team—it’s home, and he wants it to stay that way “for the rest of my career.”

Right now, Haliburton is on the road to recovery. He had surgery the day after his Achilles injury and has already been

spotted without a cast at Iowa State. Though he’s ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season, his rehab is moving in the right direction. And he’s not doing it alone—he’s got Caitlin Clark, his close friend and fellow Indiana star, as his rehab partner, turning a tough break into shared motivation.

Indiana’s iconic friendship on and off the court

Caitlin Clark and Tyrese Haliburton aren’t just the brightest basketball stars in Indiana right now—they’re also building one of the most talked-about friendships in the sport. The Fever sensation and the Pacers floor general have been spotted supporting each other constantly, whether it’s Haliburton cheering Clark’s Rookie of the Year award or Clark taunting Jalen Brunson with his own celebration after a Haliburton three. “He’s, first of all, one of my good friends,” Clark said back in May. “It’s nice being able to just talk basketball and understand each other, but also we keep it fun. It’s not anything deep, but it’s fun to talk about, too.”

That bond runs deeper than a few sideline moments. Clark has become a fixture courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and she’s even earned the title of the Pacers’ “good luck charm.” The team is a perfect 8-0 in home playoff games she’s attended, including the Finals. She admitted she even records herself during Haliburton’s biggest moments, like that clutch shot against the Knicks. “I videotaped myself, like, the final play, and I have my reaction in real time. It’s a pretty iconic video,” Clark laughed. Haliburton, of course, confirmed it, saying, “She was going crazy!” That kind of back-and-forth—her yelling “Shoot it! Shoot it! Shoot it!” from the stands, him teasing her after 10-turnover nights—is what makes their friendship feel so real.

And it’s not just the two of them. Haliburton revealed he, his girlfriend Jade Jones, Clark, and her boyfriend Connor McCaffery are all in a group chat, “talking 24/7” and even going on double dates. “The four of us hang out all the time,” Haliburton said. That support system feels rooted in something bigger than basketball—it’s about love for the city they share. Clark put it best: “Ty and I would both tell you this is where we both hope to stay the rest of our careers.” Two stars, two franchises, and one bond that’s quickly becoming the heartbeat of Indianapolis basketball.