Tyrese Haliburton Lifts Pacers Over Thunder 111-110/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Tyrese Haliburton buried a clutch jumper with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Indiana Pacers past the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Despite trailing by 15 in the fourth quarter, Indiana pulled off another miraculous comeback. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 in the loss.
Haliburton’s Heroics Lift Pacers Over Thunder: Quick Looks
- Tyrese Haliburton drilled a buzzer-beater with 0.3 seconds remaining to win Game 1.
- Indiana Pacers overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points but couldn’t hold off the Pacers’ surge.
- Pacers committed 25 turnovers but found a way to win late.
- Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 19 points, while four other Pacers scored in double digits.
- Rick Carlisle orchestrated another fourth-quarter finals comeback, just like in 2011 with Dallas.
- Oklahoma City was 36-1 at home when leading by 15 this season—until tonight.
- Game 2 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
Deep Look: Haliburton’s Clutch Shot Caps Pacers’ Incredible Finals Comeback
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Indiana Pacers added another chapter to their improbable postseason story, shocking the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals behind a cold-blooded, last-second jumper from Tyrese Haliburton.
Down by 15 points with under 10 minutes left, the Pacers mounted a furious rally and claimed their first lead of the game with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock. It was a defining moment for Haliburton, who has now hit game-winning shots in every round of these playoffs.
“Man, basketball’s fun. Winning is fun,” Haliburton said after the game, smiling ear to ear.
This time, Haliburton’s moment came on the sport’s biggest stage, in a hostile arena, against the team with the NBA’s best home record.
Haliburton’s Playoff Magic Continues
Haliburton’s knack for dramatic finishes has defined Indiana’s postseason run:
- April 29 vs. Milwaukee: Scored with 1.4 seconds left in OT to win 119-118.
- May 6 vs. Cleveland: Game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining in 120-119 win.
- May 21 vs. New York: Buzzer-beater sent game to OT; Indiana won 138-135.
- June 5 vs. Oklahoma City: 21-foot dagger sealed Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
“He’s our closer,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s been there every time.”
Carlisle, no stranger to epic comebacks, orchestrated a similar 15-point fourth-quarter turnaround in 2011 with the Mavericks — also in Game 2 of the Finals — against the Miami Heat. Lightning struck again in 2025.
Game Recap and Stats
Despite 25 turnovers, Indiana overcame adversity with clutch plays and gritty team defense in the final stretch.
- Pascal Siakam led the team with 19 points.
- Obi Toppin added 17, and Myles Turner chipped in 15.
- Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard both scored 14.
For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was nearly unstoppable, scoring 38 points and slicing through Indiana’s defense for much of the night. But the Thunder offense stalled late, and the defense cracked under the Pacers’ relentless pressure.
- Jalen Williams scored 17, while Lu Dort added 15.
- OKC was 36-1 at home this season when leading by 15 — a record shattered by Indiana’s improbable comeback.
“We had control of the game for the most part,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “But this league will humble you. They taught us the hard way.”
Coaching Tactics and Turning Point
Midway through the fourth quarter, with his team trailing by 15, Carlisle took a bold step: he subbed out all five starters, hoping for a spark. The gamble worked.
Over the next 3:26, Indiana went on a 15-4 run, capped by a Turner three-pointer that brought them within four.
“We’ve been in these spots before,” said Carlisle. “We don’t panic. We execute.”
From there, the Pacers’ defense tightened, and Haliburton took control.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
With Game 2 set for Sunday in Oklahoma City, the Thunder now face an unexpected challenge: recovering from a demoralizing collapse at home and stopping a Pacers team that seems to thrive in chaos.
Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault credited Indiana’s “spirit and resilience,” adding that his team “must respond with urgency.”
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