They led for just three-tenths of a second.
And yet, the Indiana Pacers are 1–0 up in the NBA Finals.
In a series many had already penciled in for Oklahoma City, Tyrese Haliburton and the never-say-die Pacers flipped the script in the most dramatic fashion possible. Down 15 points in the fourth quarter, Indiana clawed its way back—and with the final possession of Game 1, Haliburton rose just inside the arc and drilled a pull-up jumper with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Final score: Pacers 111, Thunder 110.
The shot was more than just a game-winner. It was a statement—a declaration that this Pacers team, young and overlooked, is not here for a participation trophy.
A Familiar Ending for an Unfamiliar Team
This was Haliburton’s fourth clutch dagger of the 2025 playoffs. Milwaukee, Cleveland, New York… now Oklahoma City. Each time, a different script. But the same ending: Haliburton with the ball in his hands and ice in his veins.
“Look, I like these moments,” Haliburton said postgame, grinning. “Some guys run from them. I live for them.”
Even more remarkable? The Pacers didn’t take a timeout after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—a force of nature all night with 38 points—missed a potential dagger fadeaway. Rick Carlisle trusted his team to execute. They did. Haliburton calmly brought the ball up, danced around Cason Wallace, and delivered the shot that silenced Paycom Center.
Indiana led for precisely 0.3 seconds in Game 1. But they were the only seconds that mattered.
A Postseason Full of Improbables
This was Indiana’s postseason in microcosm: on the ropes, out of rhythm, and yet still alive.
Let’s talk comebacks.
— Down 15 to OKC in the Finals? Won.
— Down 7 to the Bucks in OT with under 35 seconds? Won.
— Trailing Cleveland by 7 with 48 ticks left? Won.
— Behind New York by 9 in the final minute? Won in OT.
The Pacers are rewriting the definition of clutch. This Game 1 victory marked their fifth double-digit fourth-quarter comeback of these playoffs—a new NBA record.
“You can call it resilience,” Myles Turner said. “I just call it belief. We know what we’re capable of, even when no one else does.”
Gilgeous-Alexander Brilliant, But Alone
On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was everything you expect from the league MVP. 38 points. Control. Poise. Swagger. But when Indiana turned up the heat in the final minutes, the Thunder offense melted.
OKC’s supporting cast went ice cold late. Jalen Williams was 6-of-19 from the field. Chet Holmgren managed just 6 points. And after building a 15-point lead early in the fourth, the Thunder scored just one field goal in the final four minutes.
“We stopped being aggressive,” Williams admitted. “Felt like we were playing to protect the lead instead of build it.”
Rick Carlisle’s Bold Moves Pay Off Again
Down 94-79, Carlisle made a risky call: subbing out his entire starting five. It worked. The new unit sparked a 15-4 run that gave Indiana life, and from there, the veterans returned to finish the job.
Carlisle has been here before—literally. He coached the Mavericks during their legendary comeback against the Miami Heat in the 2011 Finals. The common thread? Belief, adjustments, and fearless execution.
“This team just has guts,” Carlisle said. “There’s no other way to say it.”
What’s Next?
Game 2 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are wounded, but not broken. Gilgeous-Alexander knows it’s far from over.
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