The Indiana Pacers (4) took a 1-0 lead over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals with a dramatic 111-110 victory in Game 1.
Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
For the vast majority of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City`s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to be getting the better of the star point guard matchup against Indiana`s Tyrese Haliburton. However, as Pacers coach Rick Carlisle often emphasizes, it`s a full 48-minute game. In the decisive final moments, Haliburton and the Pacers once again flipped the script.
The turning point began when Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 38 points but shot 14-for-30, missed a signature midrange jumper that could have put the Thunder up by three with just 10 seconds left. Then, Haliburton delivered his latest road heroics. While perhaps not as wild as his memorable bank shot in the Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 against the Knicks, this one was even more significant, winning the game for Indiana outright in regulation.
Remarkably, Indiana, who had not held a lead at any point prior, left the Paycom Center with a 111-110 victory over the heavily favored Thunder thanks to Haliburton`s shot falling through with just 0.3 seconds remaining. This stunning outcome has injected tremendous excitement into the series.
For large portions of Game 1, the Thunder controlled the tempo, primarily through their defense, forcing a usually careful Indiana team into 24 turnovers compared to just six for Oklahoma City. While the Thunder took 16 more shots, the Pacers compensated by hitting 18 three-pointers, including a crucial 6-for-10 performance in the fourth quarter. The Thunder, conversely, struggled from deep, shooting just 11-for-30. This disparity allowed Indiana, a team known for remarkable playoff comebacks, to set the stage for another.
And true to form, Haliburton delivered when it mattered most. While Oklahoma City remains the favorite, the second half provided a clear roadmap for the Pacers: drastically reduce turnovers and let their high-powered offense flow. The Thunder, meanwhile, stumbled offensively late, marked by critical misses from Gilgeous-Alexander. As a result, the Pacers secured yet another Game 1 road victory, mirroring their starts against Cleveland and New York. This win guarantees a compelling series.
Oklahoma City Needs Full Game Defensive Intensity
The Thunder`s vaunted defense, which ranked among the league`s best, was on full display in the first half, forcing 19 turnovers and limiting the Pacers to just 45 points. However, that intensity waned after halftime. Perhaps adjusting to the pressure, Indiana found their rhythm, scoring 66 points in the second half, including 35 in the fourth quarter, to fuel their comeback. Critically, the Pacers committed only five turnovers in the second half, enabling their preferred fast-paced, controlled offensive style.
Pacers` Comeback Formula: Reducing Turnovers
This postseason continues to prove that the Indiana Pacers can never be counted out. Trailing by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, they mounted another dramatic comeback to win Game 1 on Haliburton`s late shot – their only lead of the entire game. This pattern of a significant fourth-quarter Game 1 road comeback has now demoralized three consecutive opponents. Indiana`s recipe this time included timely clutch three-pointers from Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith, alongside the critical decision to drastically cut down on their first-half turnovers (19) after halftime. And, of course, it was capped off by Haliburton`s game-winning heroics.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch in Game 2
Can the Pacers repeat their Game 2 success? This marks the third straight series where Indiana has taken Game 1 on the road, and in the previous two instances, they followed up by winning Game 2 to build a commanding 2-0 lead. Historically, teams losing Game 1 at home are strong favorites to bounce back and win Game 2. Since 2021, higher seeds in this situation have a dominant record. These playoffs have shown similar trends, with significant average point differentials favoring the home team in Game 2 after a Game 1 loss. While there`s a historical tendency for road teams to experience a `letdown` in Game 2 after achieving the split goal, the Pacers have defied this. Doing so against an Oklahoma City team that has lost consecutive games only twice all season presents arguably their toughest test yet.
