Oklahoma City, OK - The Indiana Pacers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-107. The Pacers, trailing by 15 points early in the fourth quarter, mounted an improbable comeback fueled by aggressive defense and timely scoring.
Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the show, finishing with 28 points and 10 assists. His most important contribution came with just fractions of a second left, when he calmly sank a contested jumper over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder's star had a strong game himself, scoring 35 points, but his efforts ultimately fell short.
The Thunder struggled to contain the Pacers' offensive attack in the final frame, allowing Indiana to chip away at their lead. Turnovers and missed free throws also plagued Oklahoma City down the stretch. While the Thunder dominated the boards with Chet Holmgren's 12 rebounds, the Pacers' guards managed to disrupt the offensive flow.
"We never gave up," Haliburton said after the game. "We knew we had a lot of basketball left to play. We just kept fighting, kept believing, and were able to pull it out." The Pacers will look to carry the momentum into Game 2, while the Thunder will aim to bounce back and even the series.
Pacers Steal Game 1 from Thunder with Haliburton's Buzzer-Beater
The Indiana Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, completing a remarkable 15-point fourth-quarter comeback. Tyrese Haliburton played hero, sinking a clutch jump shot with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock. The Pacers' resilience and Haliburton's brilliance proved too much for the Thunder to handle. Indiana now holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.