Jay-Z watched his $1 million wager teeter on the edge Thursday night (June 5) after Tyrese Haliburton drained a 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Indiana Pacers over the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Hip-Hop icon and business mogul had placed the seven-figure bet on the Thunder to win the series in five games through Fanatics Sportsbook, the platform he co-founded alongside Michael Rubin.
With +230 odds, a Thunder win in five would net him a $3.3 million payday.
But Haliburton’s clutch shot didn’t just steal Game 1—it put Jay-Z’s high-stakes gamble on thin ice.
Oklahoma City had led by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, holding a 94-79 advantage with under 10 minutes to play.
Then Indiana stormed back, closing the game on a 12-2 run in the final 2:38. Haliburton’s dagger gave the Pacers their first and only lead of the night—and the win.
The Pacers’ comeback marked their fifth victory this postseason after trailing by 15 or more, setting an NBA playoff record for most such wins in a single postseason, according to CBS News.
Jay-Z’s bet had aligned with public sentiment, as the Thunder entered the Finals as -700 favorites to win the series and were favored by 10 points in Game 1.
The wager, confirmed publicly by Fanatics Sportsbook, was placed ahead of Thursday’s (June 4) tip-off in Oklahoma City.
The Brooklyn-born entrepreneur’s investment in Fanatics Sportsbook is part of a broader expansion into sports betting, fashion, spirits and tech.
He is currently trying to open a Caesars Palace casino in Times Square
Game 2 is set for Sunday night (June 8) in Oklahoma City.
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