'Ridiculous' Haliburton does it again as underdog Pacers snatch one-point win in NBA Finals opener
Tyrese Haliburton scored with 0.3 seconds left for Indiana’s first and only lead of the game and the Pacers, the last-minute comeback kings of these playoffs, did it again to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, matching the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in a finals game since Dallas came from 15 down to beat Miami on June 2, 2011.
The coach of those Mavericks: Rick Carlisle. The coach of these Pacers: Rick Carlisle.
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And once again, Indiana found a way at the end in these playoffs. On April 29, they trailed Milwaukee 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime and won 119-118.
On May 6, the Pacers trailed Cleveland 119-112 with 48 seconds left and won 120-119.
On May 21, they trailed New York 121-112 with 51.1 seconds left in regulation and won 138-135 in overtime.
Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers scores a basket with .3 seconds remaining during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Getty
Now, this.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points. Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.
Haliburton celebrates the game winning basket. NBAE via Getty Images
Game 2 is at Oklahoma City on Monday morning (AEST).
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 by Turner with 6:16 left.
They never stopped, all the way to the end.
