Tyrese Haliburton delivered a dramatic game-winning shot in the final second to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. His 21-foot jumper, with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, marked the first time the Pacers took the lead in the match, sealing a thrilling comeback win.
Despite having home court advantage and holding a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Thunder were unable to close out the game. In the final moments, the ball was in the hands of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed a crucial two-point attempt with 12 seconds remaining.
The Pacers grabbed the rebound, quickly moved the ball to Haliburton, who confidently drove down the court and sank the decisive shot.
Haliburton’s clutch scoring has been a hallmark of the 2025 playoffs, with this being his fourth significant game-winner, including three match-winning shots and one to force overtime.
Despite the Pacers committing 25 turnovers—20 of which came in the first half—Haliburton emphasized that winning in the playoffs often comes down to simply finding ways to secure the victory. Teammate Myles Turner praised Haliburton’s confidence, noting how he embraces these high-pressure moments.
The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 points, while Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points and Obi Toppin added 17. Reflecting on the game, Thunder player Jalen Williams commented on the team’s approach, saying they played cautiously to protect their lead rather than aggressively trying to extend it, which may have contributed to their narrow loss.
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