In a thrilling showdown at the Paycom Center on Thursday night, the Indiana Pacers stunned the basketball world with a heart-stopping 111-110 victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The game will be remembered for Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch step-back jumper with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, a shot that not only sealed the win but also etched his name deeper into NBA lore as the Pacers’ new Mr. Big Shot.
The Pacers, who had not appeared in the Finals since 2000, faced a daunting challenge against a Thunder team boasting the best home record in the NBA and led by the league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder dominated much of the night, with Gilgeous-Alexander pouring in a game-high 38 points, relentlessly driving the Thunder offense. Oklahoma City seemed poised to secure a comfortable win, holding a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter and capitalizing on the Pacers’ uncharacteristic mistakes.
Turnovers plagued Indiana throughout the game, with the team committing a staggering 25 in total. By halftime, the Pacers had already turned the ball over 19 times, the most in any NBA Finals half in 25 years, surpassing even the Orlando Magic's 20 first-half turnovers in a 1999 playoff game. The Thunder’s aggressive defense forced 11 first-half steals, rattling Indiana’s usually efficient ball handlers. Aaron Nesmith and Myles Turner were each responsible for four turnovers, while Obi Toppin had three in the first half alone. Even Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard were not immune, each tallying two turnovers before the break.
Despite the rocky start, the Pacers showed remarkable resilience. Coach Rick Carlisle, a veteran of historic comebacks, made a bold move when the team was down by 15 points with just under 10 minutes remaining. He called a timeout and subbed out all five players, a shake-up that sparked a 15-4 run over the next three and a half minutes. Myles Turner’s three-pointer brought the deficit down to 98-94 with 6:16 left, signaling a shift in momentum.
Indiana’s balanced attack was key to their comeback. Pascal Siakam led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Obi Toppin provided a crucial spark off the bench, knocking down five three-pointers en route to 17 points. Myles Turner contributed 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out late in the game. Haliburton himself finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, alongside six assists. Andrew Nembhard also added 14 points, further highlighting the team’s depth.
On the other side, the Thunder’s supporting cast had mixed results. Lu Dort was impressive from beyond the arc, hitting five of Oklahoma City’s nine three-pointers and finishing with 15 points. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in nine points and nine rebounds off the bench, but the Thunder were unable to close out the game despite their dominant paint presence, scoring 30 points down low and forcing 14 steals.
Haliburton’s game-winning jumper capped off one of the most dramatic finishes in recent NBA Finals history. This wasn’t Haliburton’s first time delivering in clutch moments this postseason. Earlier in the playoffs, he had orchestrated last-second wins against Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York, consistently proving he can perform under pressure. “Man, basketball’s fun,” Haliburton said after the game. “Winning is fun.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s experience and grit, noting, “We’ve had lots of experience in these kinds of games.” The comeback from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter was the largest in a Finals game since Carlisle’s own Dallas Mavericks pulled off a similar feat against Miami in 2011.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the Pacers’ resilience, stating, “Credit them for not only tonight but their run. They’ve had so many games like that that have seemed improbable. And they just play with a great spirit and they keep coming. They keep playing.”
The game also highlighted the Pacers’ ability to limit damage from their turnovers, conceding only nine points off their 25 giveaways. Despite Oklahoma City’s 12 first-half steals, the Thunder managed just five transition points, a testament to Indiana’s disciplined defensive effort when it mattered most.
Fans had mixed reactions to Obi Toppin’s first-half performance, with some expressing frustration over his early turnovers. However, Toppin bounced back spectacularly in the second half, hitting crucial three-pointers that helped fuel the comeback.
With the series now 1-0 in favor of Indiana, the focus shifts to Game 2, scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to leverage their dominant home court advantage and regroup after a heartbreaking loss, while the Pacers aim to build on their momentum and continue their pursuit of a first-ever NBA championship.
This Game 1 victory is a significant milestone for the Pacers franchise, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity and execute under pressure. The series promises to be a captivating battle between two fiercely competitive teams, with the Pacers demonstrating that they are not just participants but serious contenders on the NBA’s grandest stage.
