Tyrese Haliburton delivered a mid-range dagger with just 0.3 seconds remaining to give the "Indiana Pacers" a shocking 111-110 victory over the "Oklahoma City Thunder" in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The clutch shot capped an improbable comeback that saw the Pacers erase a 15-point deficit with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
"We keep believing, we stay together, it's not over until the clock hits zero, we just keep pushing," Haliburton said immediately after the game, still riding the emotional high of his game-winner.
The shot marked the fourth time this postseason that Haliburton has hit a decisive basket for the Pacers, who have now remarkably overcome three different games where they trailed by 7 or more points in the final minute.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated most of the contest with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. But the MVP candidate missed a crucial mid-range jumper with 11 seconds remaining that would have sealed the win for Oklahoma City.
The Thunder seemed firmly in control for most of the night, leading 57-45 at halftime and maintaining a comfortable cushion until their offense stagnated late. Their vaunted defense, which forced 24 Indiana turnovers, wasn't enough to prevent the Pacers' late surge.
Pascal Siakam contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, including a crucial putback that brought the Pacers within one point with 24 seconds left. Myles Turner added 19 points of his own, with 11 coming in the decisive fourth quarter.
Interestingly, it wasn't just Haliburton's heroics that made the difference. Andrew Nembhard played outstanding defense on Gilgeous-Alexander in critical moments while adding 14 points of his own. In fact, he even managed to get under SGA's skin – a rare sight for the normally composed MVP.
"Thunder" coach Mark Daigneault will likely be concerned about his team's offensive execution down the stretch. Despite committing only 6 turnovers, Oklahoma City managed just 13 assists and became too reliant on Gilgeous-Alexander's individual brilliance in half-court settings.
The Pacers' bench provided a significant boost, with Obi Toppin contributing 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Indiana finished an impressive 18-for-39 from three-point range, finding cracks in what had been the NBA's most formidable defense.
Can the Thunder regroup and assert their superiority in Game 2? Or have the Pacers exposed vulnerabilities in the Western Conference champions? One thing's certain – this series just got a whole lot more interesting.
