(4) Indiana Pacers lead (1) Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0
Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
For the vast majority of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, specifically the first 47 minutes and 40 seconds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held the edge over Tyrese Haliburton in the highly anticipated point guard showdown. However, echoing Pacers coach Rick Carlisle`s comment after their remarkable comeback against the Knicks, basketball is a full 48-minute game. And in the critical final 20 seconds on Thursday night, Haliburton and the Pacers completely flipped the script once more.
The turning point arrived first when Gilgeous-Alexander, despite scoring 38 points on 14-for-30 shooting, missed a clean look at his favored midrange jumper with 10 seconds left, which would have given the Thunder a three-point cushion. Then, Haliburton reprised his role as the road-game spoiler, draining a difficult shot. While perhaps not as visually stunning as his improbable bank shot in New York on May 21st, this particular shot had a more decisive outcome, winning the game for the Pacers in regulation.
As a result, Indiana, who didn`t lead at any point until Haliburton`s game-winning shot dropped through the net with just 0.3 seconds remaining, somehow left the Paycom Center with a stunning 111-110 victory over the heavily favored Thunder, instantly injecting significant drama into this series.
For extended periods in Game 1, Oklahoma City dictated the flow of the game. They managed to force Indiana, a team typically known for protecting the ball, into a turnover-prone unit, committing 24 giveaways compared to Oklahoma City`s mere six.
The Thunder attempted 16 more shots than the Pacers, yet Indiana countered by connecting on 18 3-pointers, including a hot 6-for-10 performance in the fourth quarter. The Thunder, conversely, struggled from deep, making only 11 of 30 attempts. This difference in shooting efficiency allowed Indiana, a team that has masterminded remarkable comebacks throughout these playoffs, to once again position themselves for a dramatic finish.
And just as he has done numerous times this postseason, Haliburton rose to the occasion and delivered.
Despite Indiana`s surprising Game 1 win, there remain compelling arguments for why Oklahoma City is the rightful favorite in this series. However, the second half of Thursday`s contest unveiled a potential strategy for the Pacers: significantly improved ball control ignites their potent offense. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, fell into an offensive rut, and Gilgeous-Alexander`s couple of crucial misses in the waning seconds proved costly.
Consequently, mirroring their performance in both the Eastern Conference semifinals against Cleveland and the Eastern Conference finals against New York, the Pacers have claimed a pivotal Game 1 road victory.
And because of it, we now undeniably have a compelling series on our hands. — Tim Bontemps
The Thunder Need Their Elite Defense for All 48 Minutes, Not Just 24
The first half perfectly showcased the Thunder`s defensive intensity at its peak, forcing 19 turnovers from the Pacers and limiting them to just 45 points. But this intensity failed to last into the second half.
Perhaps it took a couple of quarters for the Pacers to adapt to the Thunder`s defensive pressure, but Indiana appeared much more comfortable after halftime, exploding for 66 points in the second half, including 35 in the crucial fourth quarter, capped by Haliburton`s winning shot to secure the upset.
Crucially, Indiana committed only five turnovers in the second half, enabling them to play their preferred style of fast-paced, yet controlled, offense. — Tim MacMahon
Another Incredible Pacers Comeback: The Key Was Cutting Turnovers
If this postseason has demonstrated anything, it`s the Indiana Pacers` resilience and inability to be counted out. After trailing by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, Indiana stormed back to snatch Game 1 on another game-winning shot from Haliburton with just 0.3 seconds left, representing the Pacers` only lead of the entire game.
This has become a recurring theme for the Pacers throughout their playoff run: a significant fourth-quarter comeback in Game 1 on the road that has seemingly demoralized each of their previous three opponents.
Indiana`s latest comeback was powered by their usual key contributors, including timely 3-pointers from Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith, and most significantly, drastically improving their ball security after a staggering 19 turnovers in the first half.
And then, as has been the case so often, Haliburton stepped up and delivered another decisive shot to seal the victory. — Jamal Collier
What to Watch for in Game 2
Game 2: Pacers at Thunder (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Can Indiana repeat their success? This marks the third consecutive series where the Pacers have won Game 1 on the road, and in their two previous series this postseason, they also won Game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Historically, teams that drop Game 1 at home are strong favorites to even the series in Game 2. Since 2021, higher seeds have won 21 of 28 Game 2s after losing Game 1, with an average point differential of plus-12.1.
In these playoffs specifically, teams that lost Game 1 at home have outscored their opponents by an average of 12 points in Game 2. There have been numerous lopsided victories (including Oklahoma City`s 43-point rout of Denver in Game 2 earlier this season) which far outweigh the few instances where the road team won Game 2 (Indiana twice, and the Knicks over Boston in the second round).
Partially, this trend reflects human nature, where the road team might experience a letdown in Game 2 after achieving their initial goal of splitting the opening games and securing home-court advantage for the series. However, credit is due to the Pacers for demonstrating they aren`t satisfied and have consistently built leads that opponents couldn`t overcome.
Achieving this against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that has lost consecutive games only twice all season, will undoubtedly present their toughest test yet. — Kevin Pelton
