The Pacers have done it again. This time, on basketball’s biggest stage.
Indiana used yet another trademark fourth-quarter comeback to steal Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder. And while it’s no longer a surprise for the Pacers to complete such heroic feats, the basketball world is still in awe of their improbable come-from-behind win, capped off by more heroics from Tyrese Haliburton.
Oklahoma City led by as many as 15 points in the game, and Indiana led for just 0.3 seconds total, but that was all it needed to escape with a 111-110 win to take a 1-0 series lead in the Finals.
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Here is how the Pacers pulled off their latest improbable feat.
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Pacers comeback vs. Thunder Game 1
With 9:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams stole an errant inbound pass from T.J. McConnell. The steal led to an open-floor dunk and put the Thunder ahead by 15 points, prompting Rick Carlisle to call a timeout.
ELECTRIC ENERGY 🔋 https://t.co/rudkty6NsN pic.twitter.com/Il0JaOVLiS
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 6, 2025
After mass substitutions, Indiana never quit, chipping away at the deficit as it has come to do so well.
In less than three and a half minutes, the Pacers used a 15-4 run to cut the deficit to four points, but the Thunder did not panic yet, even after a step-back 3-pointer from Myles Turner banked off the glass.
the bank is open for Myles Turner 🏦
Myles cuts the deficit to 4. pic.twitter.com/OgNDP4jYmo
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
OKC kept its opponent at arms’ length for the next few minutes, even extending the lead back to nine points with 2:52 remaining, but it didn’t matter.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard cut the deficit to three points with 1:59 left in the game, and it was evident that Indiana was up to its old tricks — again.
Andrew Nembhard gets shifty before drilling the three 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mqfqRf2bLm
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
After a few empty possessions, a layup from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder up, 110-105, with 1:27 left.
They did not score again.
On the ensuing possession, Nembhard drew a foul to step to the line and cut the deficit to three points. A block from Pascal Siakam led an offensive possession in which Nembhard attempted to tie things up but came up short. Siakam cleaned things up with a putback layup.
After scratching and clawing, Indiana trailed, 110-109, with 49 seconds left.
In need of one more stop, the Pacers forced a missed floater from Williams but lost the rebound out of bounds. After an unsuccessful challenge, Indiana regrouped and forced a missed 14-footer from Gilgeous-Alexander. Nesmith corralled the rebound, setting up one of the more memorable moments in NBA Finals history.
Tyrese Haliburton happened.
Without calling a timeout, Indiana had OKC’s stifling defense scrambled, and Haliburton got to his spot and rose up for yet another clutch shot to add to his growing resume. The shot rolled in with 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation and secured Indiana’s first NBA Finals win since 2000.
Tyrese Haliburton for the lead with .3 remaining.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/bsYPIHo4tH
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 6, 2025
An instant classic.
MORE NBA FINALS GAME 1
Pacers’ late comebacks in 2025 NBA playoffs
Indiana’s heroics in Game 1 vs. OKC add to a list of improbable victories this postseason. Here’s a recap of just how improbable each one was.
- Game 1, NBA Finals vs. Thunder (June 5): Trailed 94-79 with 9:40 in fourth quarter; won, 111-100, in regulation
- Game 1, Eastern Conference Finals vs. Knicks (May 21): Trailed 111-94 with 6:20 in fourth quarter; won, 131-128, in overtime
- Game 2, Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Cavaliers (May 6): Trailed 119-112 with 0:50 in fourth quarter; won, 120-119, in regulation
- Game 5, Eastern Conference First Round vs. Bucks (April 29): Trailed 118-111 with 0:40 in overtime; won 119-118 in overtime
