Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winner in the final second at Paycom Center as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, Afrosport reports.
Haliburton, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, shot a 21-footer with 0.3 seconds remaining to put the Pacers in front for the first time as they rallied from 15 points.
COMEBACK COMPLETE
#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/berPfo7mHY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
The 25-year-old made yet another superstar play, a recurring theme this postseason for the former 12th overall pick. He has recorded three game-winners in the 2025 playoffs and also helped the Pacers force overtime with big-time shots in the final five seconds.
Haliburton also made history as his shot was the latest winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beater for the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
“We got the rebound. Just made a play on the offensive side. I’m obviously confident in my ability,” said Haliburton on his game-winner.
“And I feel like if I can get to that spot, I feel very comfortable in there. So, yeah, just, you know, I’ve worked on it a million times, and I work on it a million times more”
The Pacers didn’t play particularly well or like their usual selves, turning the ball over 24 times, including 19 in the first half, the most by any team in a half in the NBA Finals in the past 35 years.
They were behind by 15 points in the fourth quarter and still won, marking the fifth time in the postseason they have overcome such a deficit, the most by any team in a single postseason run in 27 years.
“I mean there was never a disbelief as a group, honestly,” said Haliburton on when he felt Indiana could steal the game. “You know, you have a half like that where you’re just throwing the ball to the other team and… We like chaos. We like controlled chaos. But that was just Ugly chaos.
“But I think we as a group came today. Oh, we got like 20 turnovers in the first half. We only gave up. I don’t remember how many points. I was like nine. Yeah. I mean that’s not that bad.
“You know, if you think of it that way, try to look at a glass half full. But I think as a group, like we never think the game is over, ever. Honestly speaking, ever.”
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Myles Turner had 15, and Obi Toppin scored 17 and shot five 3s off the bench to help the Pacers, who had six scorers in double figures, lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 set for Sunday night.
“We just said, ‘Let’s just keep chipping away at the rock,'” said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “We had a lot of experience in these kinds of games, and our guys have a real good feel for what it’s all about, giving ourselves a chance. We got fortunate but made plays.”
6 in double-digits in Game 1
pic.twitter.com/OlZL3bmM8t
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
The Thunder got a game-high 38 points from MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed a two-point attempt with about 12 seconds remaining on the clock.
“We had control of the game for the most part of it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Now it is a 48-minute game. And they teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league.
Jalen Williams had 17 points and Luguentz Dort finished with 15 as OKC lost at home for the second time this postseason after losing their series opener to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.
The two sides will rekindle their rivalry in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series in Oklahoma on Sunday night.
