OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers

It’s hard to fathom how the Oklahoma City Thunder dropped Game 1 of the NBA Finals, losing 111-110 to the Indiana Pacers. Despite forcing 25 turnovers from the Pacers while only committing seven themselves—a staggering 18-turnover advantage—the Thunder couldn’t secure the win. They held the lead for much of the game, but Tyrese Haliburton’s buzzer-beater sealed a dramatic victory for Indiana, giving them a 1-0 series lead and putting immediate pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his squad.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with an impressive 38 points, but the rest of the team struggled to contribute. Luguentz Dort shot well from three, but Jalen Williams was inefficient despite tallying 17 points. The Thunder’s bench offered little support, and their transition defense was a glaring weakness. With such an unusual turnover disparity unlikely to repeat, Oklahoma City needs to regroup quickly.

For the Pacers, the victory is a massive confidence boost, especially since they won despite a subpar performance. Turning the ball over 25 times and managing just one steal is a recipe for defeat, yet they overcame it. No Pacer scored 20 points, with Pascal Siakam leading the way at 19 points and 10 rebounds. Haliburton, despite a modest 14 points, dished out 10 assists and delivered in the clutch, as he has consistently in these playoffs. His knack for big moments is reminiscent of peak Michael Jordan, inspiring his teammates. Andrew Nembhard’s timely three-pointer late in the game was another key moment, and coach Rick Carlisle has plenty to celebrate as his team steals homecourt advantage.

Once again, the Pacers did what they do best—turn a late-game deficit into another heart-stopping win. Down nine with just three minutes left, Indiana leaned on clutch buckets from Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith before Tyrese Haliburton sealed it with a mid-range dagger—his fourth game-winner of the 2025 playoffs.

The box score was classic Pacers basketball: four players scoring between 14 and 19 points, another red-hot night from deep (18/39 on threes), and their 10th time clearing 40% from beyond the arc in 17 playoff games. If balance and efficiency win championships, Indiana’s coach must be sleeping easy.

But for the Thunder, it was the same frustrating script. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went off for 38 points, and Lu Dort shocked everyone with 15 points (5/9 from three). Together, they drained eight triples at a 50%+ clip. The problem? The rest of the team went ice-cold—just 3/15 from deep. Jalen Williams couldn’t find his rhythm (6/19 FG), and Chet Holmgren had a rough night (2/9).

Even forcing a staggering 24 turnovers—thanks to their NBA-best pressure defense—wasn’t enough. The Thunder’s flaws resurfaced at the worst time, while the Pacers? Well, they just keep doing what they do: survive, thrive, and break hearts in the clutch.