Tyrese Haliburton’s girlfriend Jade (Photo Via Instagram/@jadeeejones)
Tyrese Haliburton delivered one of the most electric moments of the NBA playoffs with a game-tying shot that had fans inside Madison Square Garden, and watching from home, on their feet. But just as the Indiana Pacers star grabbed attention on the court, his girlfriend, Jade Jones, caught plenty of attention off it.

After Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jones celebrated the Pacers’ comeback win in a way that perfectly blended nostalgia and sharp timing. She posted a series of Instagram photos wearing her old Iowa State cheerleading outfit, pairing it with a caption that had Knicks fans doing a double take: “finally got to see the ball drop in NYC.” The line referenced New York’s late-game collapse and subtly took a shot at the team’s failure to close out the win.

Cheerleader’s Journey Comes Full Circle

Tyrese Haliburton with Jade (Photo Via Instagram/@jadeeejones)
Jones and Haliburton’s story began long before their NBA fame. The couple met at Iowa State in 2019, when Haliburton was running the Cyclones’ offense and Jones was holding down the front of the cheer squad. She retired from cheerleading in 2020, reflecting on her time in the sport with gratitude and emotion.

 

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“As I sit here and reflect over the last four years, I truly couldn’t imagine my life without this sport,” Jones wrote on Instagram at the time. “These relationships and memories are something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Since stepping away from cheer, she’s embraced a different kind of sideline—one that now features packed NBA arenas and playoff hype. Still, she hasn’t forgotten her roots. Her Game 1 outfit wasn’t just a flashback; it was a reminder of where it all started.

While Haliburton’s Reggie Miller-inspired celebration after his long jumper grabbed headlines—“If I would’ve known it was a 2, I would not have done it,” he admitted postgame—Jones’ courtside presence kept the energy going long after the final buzzer. The couple shared a warm hug on the court after the overtime win, a quiet moment amid a raucous night.

With Game 2 set for 8 p.m. ET, the Pacers aim to ride the momentum of their emotional win. Haliburton stays locked in. Jones clearly is, too- and she brings all the spirit with her.