Haliburton’s Heroics Lift Pacers Over Thunder in Wild Game 1 Finish
Alright, let’s talk about what just went down in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. If you missed this one, go find the highlights immediately—because this game was an instant classic.
Let’s set the stage: Oklahoma City came in riding high, 68 regular season wins, the MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the league’s most suffocating postseason defense. And for the first 47 minutes and 59 seconds, it looked like the Thunder were going to cruise to a Game 1 win. But, as we’ve learned time and time again, don’t count out the Indiana Pacers.
The Thunder absolutely dominated the first half. They forced 19 turnovers before halftime—that’s not a typo. Their defense was everywhere. Luguentz Dort was a menace, Alex Caruso was diving for blocks, and Shai was doing Shai things—pulling up, driving, slicing the Pacers defense apart. At one point, OKC led by 15 early in the fourth, and the crowd in Loud City was on another level.
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But here's where it gets wild. Rick Carlisle, the Pacers' veteran coach, called a timeout to stop the bleeding. What followed was nothing short of magic. The Pacers came out of that timeout and went on a 32-16 run to close the game. Tyrese Haliburton—man, what more can you say about him? This dude is quickly becoming Mr. Clutch in these playoffs. He hit the game-winning jumper with 0.3 seconds left on the clock, giving Indiana their first lead of the entire game.
That’s not just impressive—it’s legendary.
Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and that one shot that will be replayed for years. Pascal Siakam added a double-double of his own, and the rest of the Pacers chipped in with timely threes and big defensive stops. Even though Shai dropped 38 and did everything he could, it wasn’t enough to hold off the comeback.
So, what does this mean going forward? The Pacers have stolen homecourt advantage. The pressure’s now fully on OKC to respond in Game 2 this Sunday. If they go down 0-2 before heading to Indianapolis, this series could flip fast.
Bottom line: Game 1 reminded us of why we watch playoff basketball—drama, grit, and the belief that no lead is ever safe. The Pacers believe. Haliburton believes. And now, we all have to believe that this series is going to be one for the history books.
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