[CHRIS FRANCIS]

The Indiana Pacers don’t really think their comeback run during the 2025 NBA playoffs is a big deal. They say it’s just what they do. Indy shocked the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 5, stealing Game 1 of the Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beating jumper with .3 seconds on the clock capped a 15-point fourth quarter comeback. It was the fifth time in this year’s playoffs the Pacers have pulled off a comeback that large – a playoff record.

More incredibly, the Pacers trailed by 9 with 2:52 to play. Since 1997 when the NBA began tracking play-by-play data, teams were 0 for 121 when trailing by that much in the final 3 minutes of an NBA Finals game. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was asked how they keep doing it.

“We’ve had a lot of experience in these kinds of games,” Carlisle said. “And our guys have a real good feel for what it’s all about, giving ourselves a chance and we got fortunate but made plays,” he said.

Four of the Pacers record five comebacks have been completed with dazzling runs in the closing 3 minutes.

Game 5 East Quarter Finals vs. Milwaukee – Down 7 with :35 seconds to go

Game 2 East Semis vs Cleveland – Down 7 with :48 seconds to go

Game 1 East Final vs. NY Knicks – Down 14 with 2:40 to go

Game 1 Finals vs. Oklahoma City –  Down 9 with 2:52 to go

Haliburton said it’s the confidence his team has and a “chip on their shoulder.” They leaned on the perception that no one believed they could win. That is a big motivator to keep going, no matter the deficit. Haliburton also said the Pacers probably spent too much time on social media.

“We just all got each other’s back at every point,” he said. “Any negative thing that’s said about anybody, we got full belief in each other. And so the more that’s talked about, like right now, we’re whatever underdog. That gives us more confidence as a group. We enjoy that, you know.”

Part villain, part savior, Haliburton has been the definition of clutch. He’s hit 6 of 7 shots in the final 90 seconds of these playoff games to either tie or take the lead. Myles Turner said what Haliburton is too modest to say: the point guard is the face of this run.

“He’s just a baller man. He’s a hooper,” Turner said. “He’s really just a gamer. When it comes to these moments, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn’t shy away from the moment. And it’s very important this time of the year to have a go-to guy and he just seems to keep finding a way.”

The Thunder, who were massive favorites to win their first NBA title, now find themselves down a game in the best-of-seven series — without home court advantage. Head coach Mark Daigneault said they need to be aware that comebacks are in the Pacers DNA.

“This is part of their identity,” Daigneault said. “They have a lot of belief. They never think they’re out of it. So, they play with great confidence even when their back’s against the wall. They proved that tonight. To me that’s a game that they went and got. And it’s a game that we can look at and improve in a lot of different areas. And that’s what, that’s our challenge right now as we head into game two.”

League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 38 points in the losing effort. In 17 playoff games, he is averaging 30.2 points per game. He will need to counter Haliburton’s success if the Thunder want to rebound from the loss.

“I thought we were pretty good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We had control of the game for the most part of it. It is a 48-minute game. They (Pacers) teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league, the hard way.”

The Thunder will have an extra day to figure it all out before what amounts to a must-win Game 2. That game will tip off Sunday, 8 P.M. EST in Oklahoma City.