Pacers Thunder Game 1 Comeback Haliburton: The Shot That Stunned Oklahoma City

The Indiana Pacers pulled off yet another playoff miracle Thursday night, with Tyrese Haliburton delivering a game-winning jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining to cap an incredible 15-point fourth-quarter comeback against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The 111-110 victory continued Indiana’s remarkable pattern of late-game heroics this postseason, giving them a 1-0 series lead and stealing home-court advantage from the heavily favored Thunder.

Another Improbable Pacers Thunder Game 1 Comeback

For nearly 48 minutes, the Thunder appeared in complete control of Game 1. Oklahoma City’s suffocating defense forced 25 Pacers turnovers, including 19 in the first half alone. The Thunder built a lead that stretched to 15 points with just under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

But these Pacers have made a habit of defying the odds. Indiana trailed by nine with 2:52 left before mounting a stunning 12-2 run to close the game. The comeback culminated with Haliburton’s pull-up jumper that gave Indiana its first and only lead of the entire night.

“Look, it was just hit the reset button, let’s go whistle to whistle in the third quarter and try to chip away at it and try to hang in,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle explained after the game. “This is going to be a long journey and a lot going on, so we’re just going to have to keep our eye on the ball and keep focusing on one another.”

Haliburton’s Heroics Seal the Deal

Despite a relatively quiet night before his final shot, Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. His game-winner came after Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a pull-up jumper that would have extended Oklahoma City’s lead to three points.

The clutch shot adds to Haliburton’s growing collection of playoff heroics this season:

• In Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, Haliburton drove for a last-second layup in overtime after the Pacers trailed by 7 with 40 seconds left.
• His 3-pointer with 1 second remaining gave Indiana a 120-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the second round after trailing by 7 with 57 seconds to go.
• In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, his high-bouncing basket at the regulation buzzer sent the game to overtime after the Pacers trailed by 9 with 58 seconds left.

Balanced Attack Overcomes Thunder’s Defense

While Haliburton hit the decisive shot, the Pacers relied on a balanced offensive attack to stay within striking distance. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 19 points, while all five starters and six players overall scored in double figures.

The Pacers’ 3-point shooting played a crucial role in their comeback, as they finished 18-of-39 from deep (46.2%). Reserve forward Obi Toppin was particularly effective, draining five 3-pointers off the bench to help swing momentum in Indiana’s favor.

Thunder’s Missed Opportunity

Despite forcing 25 turnovers, Oklahoma City couldn’t fully capitalize on Indiana’s mistakes, scoring only 11 points off those takeaways. The Thunder attempted 16 more field goals than the Pacers but converted on only 39.8% of their 98 shots.

MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38-point performance was impressive but required 30 shot attempts. His missed jumper in the final seconds opened the door for Haliburton’s heroics.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s decision to go with a smaller lineup down the stretch may have contributed to Indiana’s ability to control the glass. The Pacers outrebounded the Thunder 56-39, a significant factor in overcoming their turnover disadvantage.

Coaching Chess Match

The game featured an interesting strategic battle between Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Pacers veteran coach Rick Carlisle. Daigneault’s decision to start guard Cason Wallace over center Isaiah Hartenstein represented a shift to a smaller, more agile lineup against the fast-paced Pacers.

However, this move may have backfired in the closing minutes. Wallace was a team-worst -13 in 33 minutes and was defending Haliburton on the game-winning shot. Additionally, Daigneault’s decision to pull Chet Holmgren in the final minutes left the Thunder vulnerable on the boards.

Carlisle, meanwhile, showed why he’s considered one of the NBA’s elite tacticians, making key adjustments that allowed his team to chip away at the Thunder’s lead and ultimately complete the comeback.

Historical Context of the Comeback

The Pacers’ Game 1 victory continues their unprecedented run of comebacks this postseason. They have now come back to win four games in which they trailed by 17 or more points in these playoffs — the most in a single playoffs in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).

Since 1996-97, there have been four playoff games in which a team rallied to win after trailing by seven or more points in the final 0:50 of the 4th quarter or OT. The Pacers have three of those four wins in this playoff run alone, one in each round.

Fan Reaction

The stunning comeback left Thunder fans in Paycom Center stunned into silence, while Pacers fans watching back in Indianapolis erupted in celebration. Social media immediately lit up with reactions to Haliburton’s clutch shot and the Pacers’ improbable victory.

The dramatic finish further cemented this Pacers team’s reputation as the “comeback kings” of the NBA playoffs and turned what many expected to be a Thunder coronation into a potentially competitive series.

Looking Ahead to Game 2

The series continues with Game 2 on Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to regroup and protect their home court, while the Pacers aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead before the series shifts to Indianapolis.

“The biggest experience we’ve had is understanding that every game is a new game,” Daigneault said after the loss. “The most important game in the series is always the next one, regardless of the outcome. We would have liked to win tonight, but tonight was a starting point, not an end point.”

For the Pacers, the challenge will be building on their Game 1 success while addressing the turnover issues that nearly cost them the opener. If they can clean up their ball security while maintaining their shooting efficiency, they could put serious pressure on the favored Thunder.

The Pacers’ Improbable Journey Continues

The Pacers Thunder Game 1 comeback adds another chapter to Indiana’s remarkable playoff story. For a team that was under .500 at the start of 2025 and entered the playoffs as a fourth seed, they continue to defy expectations with their resilience and late-game execution.

Tyrese Haliburton, once voted “most overrated” by his peers in an anonymous NBA player poll, continues to silence critics with his clutch performances on the biggest stage. His growing collection of game-winners has transformed him from an All-Star into a potential NBA Finals MVP if the Pacers can complete their Cinderella run.