Game One of this year’s NBA Finals is in the books and NBA fans were left stunned after a wild 111-110 finish with the Indiana Pacers taking a 1-0 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton nailed the go-ahead jump shot with just .3 left on the game clock and the Thunder were not able to convert a play at the other end to answer.
MVP and former Kentucky Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a force for most of the game, scoring 19 points in each half to finish with a game-high 38 along with five rebounds, three assists and as many steals.
He was also one of only two OKC starters to have a positive +/- once the game was over.
Teammate and fellow former Wildcat Cason Wallace earned the start, played 33 minutes and finished with six points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.
Unfortunately for the Thunder and their fans, this is exactly the way the Pacers quickly took control of their last series in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.
The Pacers hung around all game and wouldn’t allow the Thunder to pull away with a large lead, instead being able to stay within striking distance when they eventually found a rhythm in the second half of Game One.
Going into this series, teams were 0-182 when trailing by 9 or more points in the final 3 minutes of a NBA Finals game before Haliburton and the Pacers won last night.
The Thunder will now have an uphill battle after losing home court advantage.
Game Two is scheduled for Sunday with tip-off at 8 PM ET on ABC.
Tweet of the Day
Pacers continue to be great in the clutch.
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