Thunder Stunned as Pacers Snatch Dramatic Victory in NBA Finals Opener
Dramatic NBA Finals kick off, dealing a heavy blow to the favored team
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In an unforeseen twist, the Indiana Pacers snatched a thrilling one-point win against the favored Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. With mere seconds left on the clock, the Pacers edged ahead for the first time, 111:110, leaving the Thunder stunned.
Tyrese Haliburton's decisive throw sealed the deal, capping off a remarkable comeback after being 15 points behind just a few minutes before. "This is huge.We've been through it all throughout the playoffs, and we just keep pushing forward," Haliburton declared.
Remarkably, the last time a team overcame a 15-point deficit in the final quarter of the NBA Finals was 14 years ago, when Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat[1]. Interestingly, the coach of the victorious 2025 Pacers basketball team, Rick Carlisle, was the coach of that legendary Mavs team.
A Sluggish Start for OKC
The Thunder, featuring German sensation Isaiah Hartenstein, suffered an unexpected and significant setback in this best-of-seven series. After a strong dominance for most of the game, an ever-resilient Pacers squad fought back, ultimately leaving the Thunder scrambling for answers.
Hartenstein played as a substitute, but still made crucial contributions that kept the Thunder in the lead for the majority of the game. However, in the final seconds, it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who totaled 38 points, but fell just short of securing the win.
Close to two dozen turnovers plagued the Pacers in the first half, according to their head coach, Rick Carlisle. Pascal Siakam was the leading scorer, with 19 points, while Haliburton contributed a significant 14 points - the game-tying and winning contributions coming in the final seconds.
Sources: ntv.de, ter/sid
- NBA
- Basketball
- Basketball Playoffs
The unforeseen victory by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals is a testament to the intense nature of NBA playoffs, as they edged past the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling one-point game. Tyrese Haliburton's decisive throw in the final seconds mirrored the remarkable comeback of Rick Carlisle's Dallas Mavericks 14 years ago against the Miami Heat, proving that basketball, and especially the NBA playoffs, are unpredictable and full of drama.
