Haliburton Steals the Spotlight in Thrilling Game 1
Nobody outside of Indiana really gave the Pacers much of a shot heading into Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Thunder. Oklahoma City had looked nearly untouchable throughout the regular season, rarely dropping even two games in a row, and brought a mix of young energy and star power behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But none of that mattered when the game clock ticked under a second on Monday night.
Thunder fans in Oklahoma City were already thinking about Game 2 when they saw Gilgeous-Alexander, who had already piled up a monster 38 points, pull up for a mid-range jumper with ten seconds to play. All night, he was the driving force, finding every gap, draining tough shots, and keeping the Pacers playing catch-up. For 47 minutes and 50 seconds, it looked like the Thunder would finish what they started.
But Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot missed. The Pacers grabbed the board. Suddenly, with the roar of the home crowd buzzing in everyone's ears, Tyrese Haliburton found the ball in his hands near the arc. He twisted around his defender and somehow got off a leaning, off-balance shot just inside the three-point line. The ball rattled in, and the arena went silent—with only 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
It was the first time all game that Indiana had the lead. The team that spent the entire night clawing from behind was now up 1, putting Oklahoma City in a nearly impossible spot with barely any time to respond. The Pacers held on and celebrated as the buzzer sounded—the kind of road win that flips a whole series on its head.
Shockwaves Across the League
No one’s brushing off this win as a fluke. The way the Thunder started the night, it seemed like business as usual: crisp ball movement, aggressive defense, and confidence from their young roster. Yet, the Pacers just wouldn’t go away. Every time the Thunder threatened to run away with things, Indiana’s bench players kept their team close with hustling defense and clutch three-pointers. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle could be seen urging his guys on, reminding them of the confidence they built in the Eastern Conference Finals when they clawed back against the Knicks from a double-digit Game 1 deficit.
The last time Indiana was on a stage this big, Reggie Miller was still knocking down shots in the ’90s. For this group, led by Haliburton, every playoff win feels like new territory, yet they’re playing loose and with nothing to lose. On the flip side, the Thunder aren’t used to this kind of pressure—after all, losing two games in a row was a rarity for them all season.
Now, with the series shifting momentum and the Pacers swiping home-court advantage, all eyes are on Oklahoma City. Can Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder shake off the heartbreak loss and bounce back in Game 2? Or will Indiana keep riding the underdog wave behind their unflappable young guard?
The only thing certain right now—no lead is safe in this series, and Game 1 was just the beginning of what promises to be a wild ride to the championship.
