Thunder vs Pacers: Game 1 Recap and What Comes Next

Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals gave us a finish you won’t forget: Tyrese Haliburton hit a wild buzzer-beater with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Pacers to a 111-110 win over the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 38 points for Oklahoma City but couldn’t close it out. That one possession changed the tone of the series — here’s what mattered and what to watch in the next games.

What decided Game 1

Late execution and clock management. The Thunder had chances but missed the final look, while Indiana found space for Haliburton’s look and he delivered. SGA’s 38 was huge — he carried Oklahoma City on offense — but the Pacers got timely baskets and better spacing in the last minutes. Turnovers weren’t the headline, but a single defensive lapse and a made contested shot swung the result.

Matchups mattered too. When Haliburton had the ball, Indiana ran sets to get him a clean rhythm with shooters moving. That forced the Thunder to choose between helping on Haliburton or stopping the shooters. Oklahoma City struggled when help defense left shooters open late in the clock. Rebounding in the final minute also tilted slightly toward Indiana, giving them the extra possession they needed.

Key things each team must fix

Thunder: Find a cleaner late-game plan. With SGA hot, you still need an option after a drive or a quick reset to hit a catch-and-shoot. Protect defensive rotations — don’t over-commit on Haliburton drives and leave shooters wide open. And prioritize offensive rebounds in crunch time; one extra board could have erased that 0.3-second heartbreak.

Pacers: Don’t let Haliburton become the only late-game hero. He’s deadly, but you want multiple go-to options so defenses can’t pack the paint. Tighten up early-game defense to avoid playing catch-up, and watch matchup switches that can give SGA easier drives. If Indiana keeps the bench contributing timely points, they’ll stay dangerous.

What to watch next: look for adjustments from both coaches. Will the Thunder give SGA more off-ball looks or keep feeding him in iso? Will the Pacers press their perimeter defense to stop drives and force kick-outs under pressure? Special teams matter too — inbound plays, sideline clocks, and free-throw execution can decide tight games.

Betting and fan tips: if you’re following lines, expect the market to react to home-court swings and injury notes. Check official injury reports before placing anything — small changes (minutes limits, rest days) have big outcomes in finals-level matchups. Most importantly, watch the first six minutes of Game 2 for the early tone: teams that control the opening quarter often set up a win.

This series is wide open after Game 1. One shot doesn’t decide a title, but it changes the story. If you care about Xs and Os or just the thrill, keep an eye on late-clock offense and who handles the ball when the score is tight.