The Indiana Pacers never cease to amaze and have once again defied logic. With unwavering faith and the leadership of Tyrese Haliburton, Rick Carlisle' s team beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-111 in the first game of the NBA Finals 2025, after a 15-point comeback in the last quarter.
NEMBHARD = CLUTCH 🙌 https://t.co/CUbyZanQ0j pic.twitter.com/6nNk0N0EAG
- NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
With just 0.3 seconds on the clock, Haliburton scored a layup from mid-range to cap one of the most spectacular comebacks in Finals history, matching a feat only seen in 2011 with the Mavericks.. .coached, oddly enough, by Carlisle himself.
A surreal fact
With all the fans on top in the small city of Oklahoma, it was necessary to analyze data that could evidence a great favoritism for the home team in this first game. They have a positive record of 27-1 in the regular season against teams from the Eastern Conference.
SIAKAM BRINGS INDY WITHIN 1 POINT 😲
GET TO ABC FOR THE FINAL 22.5 SECONDS NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/GfICJVVhRyl
- NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
In fact, the most devastating stat had come in these playoffs only having given up one game at home to the Denver Nuggets in the series that went to Game 7. A tough blow for Shai's team that will have to react to the advantage gained by the Indiana Pacers.
Haliburton: from "overrated" to hero
The Pacers point guard, who has been labeled by some as the most overrated player in the NBA, already accumulated four game-winning shots in these playoffs 2025. This time, he silenced the Oklahoma City fans with an action that gave Indiana its only lead in the entire game, right at the most decisive moment.
NO QUIT.
NO PANIC.
NO FEAR.
The @Pacers complete their 5th 15-PT comeback this playoffs, the most by ANY team since 1998 🤯 https://t.co/heI0ELIQlu pic.twitter.com/bie6b8FDOd
- NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
"We don't stop fighting until there's 0 on the clock," Haliburton said after signing 14 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, in addition to executing the winning layup.
Thunder, victims of the Pacers effect
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shined with 38 points, but missed his shot on the play before Haliburton's winning basket. It was a huge blow to a team that was 36-1 this season when leading by 15 or more points at home.
Tough shot, tough finish 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/oCN6WykQbj
- OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 6, 2025
OKC's defense, considered the best in the league, was overwhelmed in the final quarter. Down 94-79 with less than 10 minutes to play, the Pacers overcame 24 turnovers and Lu Dort's outside shooting (5/9 three-pointers) to take the win.
Indiana defies history once again
This comeback is not an exception in the Pacers playoffs. The team had already overcome similar disadvantages against Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York Knicks in previous series. Indiana is no longer a fluke: it's an identity.
TYRESE HALIBURTON GIVES THE PACERS THE LEAD!
GET TO ABC NOW FOR THE FINISH! pic.twitter.com/l4SPrNspGG
- NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
In addition to Haliburton, Pascal Siakam was key with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Obi Toppin chipped in 17 off the bench and Myles Turner scored 11 of his 19 points in the final quarter. Andrew Nembhard, with 14 points and a great defensive effort on SGA, was the unexpected X-factor of the night.
Carlisle's adjustments and the warning for OKC.
Rick Carlisle revolutionized the game in the fourth quarter, going for a complete change in the starting five that changed the dynamic. A 15-4 run in just over three minutes gave hope back to the Pacers, who ended up shooting 18/39 on three-pointers.
Fuente: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images
OKC will have to rethink its strategy for Game 2, which will be played in the early hours of Sunday to Monday (02:00, Spanish time), again in Oklahoma City. The big question will be whether Daigneault bets for more minutes with pivots or continues to rely on the small-ball, which today was not enough to stop Indiana.