Title: Haliburton’s magic steals Finals opener in wild shootout
Subtitle: Pacers shock Thunder with stunning 111-110 comeback victory Permalink: /haliburton-pacers-thunder-finals-game1-comeback Meta Description: Tyrese Haliburton hits game-winner with 0.3 seconds left as Pacers steal Game 1 from Thunder 111-110 in thrilling NBA Finals opener. Focus Keyword: NBA Finals thriller Tags: Tyrese Haliburton, NBA Finals, Pacers Thunder, game winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, basketball comeback, clutch shot, Oklahoma City, Indiana Pacers, playoff drama
Kid from small-town Indiana owns the big stage
For 47 minutes and 40 seconds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked like the MVP everyone expected him to be. Then Tyrese Haliburton reminded everyone why basketball is a 48-minute game.
With 0.3 seconds left and his team trailing by one, Haliburton calmly drained a circus shot from just inside the 3-point line to give Indiana a stunning 111-110 victory over heavily favored Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The shot capped one of the most dramatic comeback wins in recent Finals history.
“We were late to the party, too,” Haliburton joked afterward, referencing how the Pacers started the season under .500. Now they’re one win away from potentially taking a commanding 2-0 series lead back to Indianapolis.
Thunder’s mvp has rare off night when it mattered most
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points but shot a pedestrian 14-for-30, including a crucial miss on a clean midrange jumper—his specialty—that would have given Oklahoma City a three-point lead with 10 seconds remaining. For a player who built his MVP case on clutch execution, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
The Thunder controlled most of this NBA Finals thriller, forcing Indiana into 24 turnovers compared to just six for Oklahoma City. They took 16 more shots than the Pacers and seemed to dictate the pace exactly as expected from the league’s best defensive team.
But the Pacers never quit fighting. Despite trailing by 15 points in the fourth quarter, Indiana found their rhythm when it mattered most. They hit six 3-pointers in the final quarter, with Haliburton providing the perfect exclamation point on a night that belonged to road underdogs.
The loss stung even more for Oklahoma City considering they’d lost consecutive games only twice all season. Now they face the daunting task of avoiding an 0-2 hole that has historically been difficult to overcome in the Finals.
Fourth-quarter magic becomes pacers trademark
This marked the third consecutive series where Indiana has stolen Game 1 on the road, and their fourth-quarter comebacks are becoming legendary. Against Cleveland, New York, and now Oklahoma City, the Pacers have demoralized opponents with late-game heroics that seem to come from nowhere.
The formula remained consistent: take better care of the basketball and let their high-octane offense take over. After committing 19 turnovers in the first half, Indiana cleaned up their mistakes with just five turnovers after halftime, playing the controlled style that got them to the Finals.
Myles Turner, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith all hit crucial 3-pointers during the comeback, but Haliburton’s winner will be remembered as the shot that announced Indiana’s arrival as a legitimate championship contender.
Experience matters in clutch moments. While Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder felt the pressure of their first Finals appearance, Haliburton looked completely comfortable in the spotlight, calmly rising up for the most important shot of his career without hesitation.
Blueprint emerges for upset-minded pacers
The second half revealed exactly how Indiana can compete with Oklahoma City’s overwhelming talent advantage. When the Pacers protect the basketball and let their shooters find rhythm, they become incredibly dangerous against any defense.
Oklahoma City’s defensive pressure, which looked suffocating early, became less effective once Indiana adjusted to the intensity. The Thunder’s tendency to miss 3-pointers—they shot 11-for-30 from deep—also kept the door open for Indiana’s comeback attempt.
Most encouraging for the Pacers was how comfortable they looked once the game tightened up. Rather than wilting under Finals pressure, Indiana’s players stepped up with big shots and key defensive stops when the championship stakes were highest.
Home court advantage now belongs to pacers. By stealing Game 1 on the road, Indiana has effectively flipped the series dynamic. Even if they lose Game 2, they’ll return home with two chances to take a 3-1 series lead that would be nearly impossible for Oklahoma City to overcome.
Thunder face must-win situation in game 2
History suggests Oklahoma City will respond strongly in Game 2, as higher seeds have gone 21-7 in Game 2 after losing the opener since 2021. The Thunder also showed their championship character by reaching the Finals despite questions about their playoff experience.
But this wasn’t just any Game 1 loss—it was a devastating defeat that saw a comfortable lead evaporate in the final minutes. How Oklahoma City responds to that disappointment will determine whether this becomes a competitive series or a stunning upset.
The Thunder’s depth and defensive versatility still make them dangerous, but they can no longer rely on home court advantage to carry them through difficult moments. With Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren and their swarming defense, they have the pieces to slow down Indiana’s offense.
Margin for error now razor-thin. Oklahoma City entered the Finals as heavy favorites, but that luxury disappeared with Thursday night’s loss. Now they face the pressure of preventing a 2-0 deficit that would require winning four of five games against a Pacers team playing with supreme confidence.
This NBA Finals thriller proved that talent alone doesn’t guarantee victory—sometimes a kid from small-town Indiana with ice in his veins can change everything with one perfect shot.
