Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton makes a game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The shot gave Indiana its only lead of the night in a 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5), guard Cason Wallace (22), and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) reach for the ball during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle walks on the sideline during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) defends against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault stands on the sideline during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, center, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams shoots during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, dives over Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) defends against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Fans cheer for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defend against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A fan cheers during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle walks with players during a timeout in the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) fouls Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) collides with Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, left, during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, center left, during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a shot during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) fouls Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, front, during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) and Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) run to the ball during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) talks with Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, reacts after a foul call with center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, fouls Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, left, talks with referee John Goble during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant, top, defends agaisnt Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) talks with head coach Mark Daigneault during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) reacts after a double dribble call during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, left, and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard chase the ball during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) knocks the ball away from Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrateswith center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) after a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) dunks during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) knocks the ball away from Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton makes a game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The shot gave Indiana its only lead of the night in a 111-110 win. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton makes a game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The shot gave Indiana its only lead of the night in a 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates with forward Aaron Nesmith (23) after making the game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. It was the only lead of the night for the Pacers in their 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez). (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, celebrates with forward Aaron Nesmith after making the game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. It was the only lead of the night for the Pacers in their 111-110 win. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, celebrates with forward Aaron Nesmith after making the game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. It was the only lead of the night for the Pacers in their 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates with forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and forward Obi Toppin (1) after making the game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. It was the only lead of the night for the Pacers in their 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton makes a game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. The shot gave Indiana its only lead of the night in a 111-110 win. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tyrese Haliburton and the never-say-die Indiana Pacers pulled off yet another last-second comeback, this time on the NBA’s biggest stage.
Haliburton’s 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left gave Indiana its first and only lead of the game, and the Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110, on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals after a comeback for the ages.
“Man, basketball’s fun,” Haliburton said. “Winning is fun.”
Especially like this.
The Pacers turned the ball over 25 times, trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter against a team with the best home record in the NBA and had no answers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – the league MVP who led all scorers with 38 points.
But they had the league’s new Mr. Big Shot, who has now had one of these moments in every series the Pacers have played in these playoffs.
• April 29, Indiana trailed Milwaukee 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime. Haliburton scored with 1.4 seconds remaining and the Pacers won, 119-118.
• May 6, Indiana trailed Cleveland 119-112 with 48 seconds left and won, 120-119. Haliburton got the game-winner with 1.1 seconds to play.
• May 21, Indiana trailed New York 121-112 with 51.1 seconds left in regulation. Haliburton sent it to overtime on a jumper with no time on the clock; Indiana won, 138-135.
Now, this, the fifth time this postseason that they have won when trailing by at least 15 points – the most by any team in a single postseason since 1998.
“We’ve had lots of experience in these kinds of games,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, their rally the biggest in the fourth quarter of a Finals game since Dallas also came from 15 down to beat Miami on June 2, 2011.
Carlisle coached those Mavericks. And, well, here he is again.
“That’s a really good team,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. “Credit them for not only tonight but their run. They’ve had so many games like that that have seemed improbable. And they just play with a great spirit and they keep coming. They keep playing.”
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points. Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.
Jalen Williams had 17 and Lu Dort scored 15 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.
Game 2 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City led by 15 early in the fourth when Carlisle called time and subbed out all five players, seeking a spark. It worked. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 15-4 over the next 3:26 – getting within 98-94 on a 3-pointer by Turner with 6:16 left.
The Pacers trailed by one during a replay review with 22.1 seconds remaining, and Nembhard’s defense helped lead to a missed Gilgeous-Alexander jumper, and, after a rebound by Aaron Nesmith, the Pacers knew to get the ball in Haliburton’s hands.
They weren’t done. And in the final second, they found a way. Again.
“We had control of the game for the most part,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Now, it’s a 48-minute game. And they teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league – the hard way.”
Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense dominated the first half, holding the Pacers to 45 points while forcing 20 turnovers – the most by any NBA Finals team in a half in the past 35 years. Haliburton acknowledged that the raucous crowd, which worked itself into a frenzy for most of the night, led to some first half “jitters.” However, the Thunder converted those turnovers into only nine points, which allowed Indiana to remain within striking distance.
Indiana found an offensive comfort zone after halftime. The Pacers protected the ball much better, committing only five turnovers in the second half, when they scored 66 points while shooting 51.1% from the floor, including 10 for 20 from 3-point range (going 6 for 10 in the fourth quarter, when OKC made no shots from behind the arc).
“As a group, we never think the game is over, ever,” Haliburton said. “Honestly speaking, ever. This group is a resilient group, and we don’t give up until it’s 0.0 on the clock.”
Haliburton hit his shot – the latest game-winner in a Finals game since the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan did it in Game 1 of the 1997 Finals against Utah – over Thunder guard Cason Wallace, who has earned a reputation as an elite on-ball defender.
“You don’t want to live and die with the best player on the other team taking a game-winner with a couple seconds left,” said Alex Caruso, the oldest player on the Thunder roster and the only one who has won an NBA title. “You want to try to control the game coming down so it doesn’t fall into that.”
Oklahoma City, which has the second-youngest Finals roster in NBA history, can point to a collapse against the Denver Nuggets in it second-round opener as proof that this team is capable of bouncing back from an excruciating series-opening setback. The Thunder responded to blow out the Nuggets by 43 points in Game 2 and won the series in seven games.
“How you lose doesn’t really matter,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Obviously it sucks – last-second shot, the energy in the arena and stuff like that. But we lost at the end of the day. We lost Game 1.
“We’ve lost Game 1 before. On the other side of that, we came out a better team. That’s our goal.”
The Thunder are 4-0 following losses during this playoff run, winning the next game by an average margin of 20.5 points. OKC lost consecutive games only twice during its 68-win regular season.
“The playoffs take you to the limit,” Daigneault said. “They put your back against the wall – in games, in series. If you make it this far, you have to endure to do that. It gives you rich experiences that you can draw on. The biggest experience we’ve had is understanding that every game’s a new game. The most important game in the series is always the next one, regardless of the outcome. We would’ve liked to win tonight, but tonight was a starting point, not an end point.”
Originally Published: June 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM PDT