Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night was the perfect start to the series that determines who will win the league championship.
The matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers looked like it was a one-way battle through most of the game, until it wasn't.
Oklahoma City seemed to be having another dominant performance from tip-off, leading the game throughout.
The Thunder were able to get their lead up to 15 points with 9:42 left in the fourth quarter.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7).
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7).
© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another high-scoring display, finishing with 38 points while shooting 14-30 from the field. But as the Pacers often do, they stuck with it and snuck back into the game late in the fourth quarter.
As the teams traded baskets in the final minutes, it came down to the final possessions for both teams.
Tyrese Haliburton ended up with the ball in the final seconds and hit a contested mid-range jump shot to give the Indiana Pacers a one-point lead with 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton takes the winning shot in the final seconds of Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on June 5, 2025.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton takes the winning shot in the final seconds of Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on June 5, 2025.
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
The basket would eventually get the Pacers the first win of the matchup with a final score of 111-110.
Hall of Famer and three-time NBA champion Dwayne Wade was watching the game, and a camera was able to capture his reaction to Haliburton's game-winner.
"SUPERSTAR!! SUPERSTAR!!" Wade said while reacting to the clutch basket.
There is a lot of work to be done for both teams, but the game-winner by Tyrese Haliburton will forever be documented as one of the most clutch shots in NBA Finals history.
Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers will take place on Sunday, June 8.