Haliburton the hero as Indiana Pacers win dramatic game 1 of NBA final
Tyrese Haliburton scored with 0.3 seconds left for Indiana's first and only lead of the game, and the Pacers, the last-minute comeback kings of these playoffs, did it again to beat the Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
Prior to tip-off, the 2024/25 NBA final between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers had been accused of being one of the less likable matchups thanks to the fact that it lacked one of the more famous big boys.
No Lakers. No Bulls. No Golden State. No Boston. No New York. Just OKC and the Pacers.
Game 1 proved to be different.
Tyrese Haliburton scored with 0.3 seconds left for Indiana's first and only lead of the game, and the Pacers, the last-minute comeback kings of these playoffs, did it again to beat the Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
According to records, Haliburton's shot is the latest game winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan did it in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, ESPN recorded.
The Pacers, who as a result took their first lead of the game with 0.3 seconds remaining, was the latest into any Finals game over the past 50 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"We're a resilient group," Haliburton said afterward during an interview on ESPN's "SportsCenter."
"We just keep saying that to you guys. You guys keep asking us, and we keep giving you the same answer. We're a resilient group and we don't give up till the clock hits zero," he said.
The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, matching the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in a Finals game since the Dallas Mavericks came from 15 down to beat the Miami Heat on June 2, 2011.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points.
Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.
Game 2 at Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
Full NBA Finals schedule:
· Game 1: Pacers @ Thunder, Thursday, 5 June 2025, Thunder 110- Pacers 111
· Game 2: Pacers @ Thunder, Sunday at 3 AM.
· Game 3: Thunder @ Pacers, June 11 at 3.30 AM.
· Game 4: Thunder @ Pacers, June 13 at 3 AM.
· Game 5 (if needed): Pacers @ Thunder, June 16 at 3.30 AM.
· Game 6 (if needed): Thunder @ Pacers, June 19 at 3.30 AM.
· Game 7 (if needed): Pacers @ Thunder, June 22 at 3 AM.
