Indiana Pacers Stun Thunder with Last-Second Win in NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. — The Indiana Pacers pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110, in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Thursday night. Trailing by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Pacers rallied to claim their first lead with just 0.3 seconds left on a game-winning jump shot by Tyrese Haliburton.

Despite a tough start, in which Oklahoma City dominated and forced 19 turnovers in the first half, the Pacers orchestrated a spectacular second-half performance. Haliburton, who finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, has been pivotal in the Pacers’ four significant comebacks this postseason.

“We just kept fighting,” Haliburton said after the game. “We focused on taking it one play at a time, and we knew we had a chance if we stayed composed.” The second half saw the Pacers cut down on turnovers and capitalize on their three-point shooting. They made 18 of 39 three-point attempts for an impressive 46.2% from beyond the arc.

Pascal Siakam led the team with 19 points, while Obi Toppin added 17 points off the bench. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout performer of the night, scoring 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting, but struggled to find support from teammates, as no other player scored more than 17 points.

The game marked an intense battle, with Oklahoma City holding a commanding lead for most of the match. An aggressive defensive strategy forced the Pacers to alter their offensive game plan significantly, but they adapted successfully in the second half. “Their defense is tough,” Siakam admitted. “But we made the adjustments we needed to and played Pacers basketball.”

The Pacers’ upcoming focus will be on building off this momentum in Game 2, scheduled for Sunday night. With the Finals now tied at one game apiece, Haliburton is looking ahead positively.

“We’ve got to take it step by step,” Haliburton said. “But getting this win was huge for our confidence.”