Haliburton's last-second shot lifts Pacers over Thunder in NBA Finals
INDIANA'S TYRESE HALIBURTON sank the game-winning basket with 0.3 of a second remaining to give the Pacers a stunning 111-110 fightback victory over Oklahoma City in Thursday's opening game of the NBA Finals.
Haliburton, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, gave the Pacers their only lead of the game on a dramatic 21-foot jump shot to deliver a shocker after Indiana had trailed by 15 points with 9:42 remaining.
TYRESE HALIBURTON GIVES THE PACERS THE LEAD!
GET TO ABC NOW FOR THE FINISH! pic.twitter.com/l4SPrNspGG — NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
'I'm confident in my ability and feel like if I can get to my spot I'm really comfortable from there. I really had confidence in my shot,' Haliburton said of the game winner.
'We're just a really resilient group. We did a great job of just walking them down. When it gets to 15, you can panic or you can talk about how do you get it to 10, to five and from there. We just stuck with it.
'We got a big stop there and they had a lot of confidence in me to make that shot.'
With a game-closing 14-2 run, the Pacers seized a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with game two on Sunday at Oklahoma City.
'We've got to learn from it. There are obviously a lot of things we can clean up. Credit them. They went and got that game,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
'They've had so many games like that that have seemed improbable and they just play with a great spirit and keep coming.'
Advertisement
It was the fifth 15-point-or-greater winning comeback by Indiana in this year's playoffs, the most by any team since 1998.
'They went up 15 and we just said let's just keep chipping away at the rock,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'We had a lot of experience in these kind of games and our guys have a real good feel for what it's all about, giving ourselves a chance.
'We got fortunate, but made plays.'
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points while reserve Obi Toppin added 17, Myles Turner had 15 and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each added 14.
'It was a total team effort,' said Haliburton. 'We had so many guys chip in.'
The finish evoked memories of the first game in the Eastern Conference finals, when a Haliburton buzzer shot forced over-time as the Pacers stunned New York. He has four such deciders in the playoffs.
The Pacers seek the first NBA crown in their 58-year history while the Thunder, a champion in 1979 as Seattle, have not won a crown since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.
'We know we have a lot of work to do,' Indiana's Carlisle said. 'We have to play a lot better… and they are a menace defensively.'
Indiana overcame 24 turnovers, allowing the Thunder only 11 points off them, and a 38-point performance by NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
'It's not rocket science. We have to be better,' Gilgeous-Alexander said.
A 12-2 run pulled Indiana within 98-94 with 6:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, with Turner and Toppin each making two three-pointers.
The Thunder, with the NBA's best regular-season record, clung to the lead but could not hold on.
Aaron Nesmith and Nembhard sank back-to-back three-pointers to lift Indiana within 108-105 with 1:59 remaining and after a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander, Nembhard made two free throws and Siakam scored off a rebound to lift the Pacers within 110-109.
Nesmith rebounded a Gilgeous-Alexander miss to set up Haliburton's game-winning shot.
'We just had to figure out how to win in so many different ways all year,' Haliburton said. 'We're a resilient group… we keep believing and we stay together.'
The Thunder, who had a season-low 13 assists, took a 29-20 lead after one quarter and surged to a 57-45 half-time lead.
'We just had to hang in,' Carlisle said. 'We were within reach of still being in the game.'
A Jalen Williams slam dunk produced the Thunder's biggest lead at 94-79 with 9:42 remaining, setting up the intense finish.
'As much as we can, we have to treat it like every other game,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'We haven't been in this situation but it doesn't mean our character has to change.'
– © AFP 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
a day ago
- The 42
Haliburton's last-second shot lifts Pacers over Thunder in NBA Finals
INDIANA'S TYRESE HALIBURTON sank the game-winning basket with 0.3 of a second remaining to give the Pacers a stunning 111-110 fightback victory over Oklahoma City in Thursday's opening game of the NBA Finals. Haliburton, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, gave the Pacers their only lead of the game on a dramatic 21-foot jump shot to deliver a shocker after Indiana had trailed by 15 points with 9:42 remaining. TYRESE HALIBURTON GIVES THE PACERS THE LEAD! GET TO ABC NOW FOR THE FINISH! — NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025 'I'm confident in my ability and feel like if I can get to my spot I'm really comfortable from there. I really had confidence in my shot,' Haliburton said of the game winner. 'We're just a really resilient group. We did a great job of just walking them down. When it gets to 15, you can panic or you can talk about how do you get it to 10, to five and from there. We just stuck with it. 'We got a big stop there and they had a lot of confidence in me to make that shot.' With a game-closing 14-2 run, the Pacers seized a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with game two on Sunday at Oklahoma City. 'We've got to learn from it. There are obviously a lot of things we can clean up. Credit them. They went and got that game,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'They've had so many games like that that have seemed improbable and they just play with a great spirit and keep coming.' Advertisement It was the fifth 15-point-or-greater winning comeback by Indiana in this year's playoffs, the most by any team since 1998. 'They went up 15 and we just said let's just keep chipping away at the rock,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'We had a lot of experience in these kind of games and our guys have a real good feel for what it's all about, giving ourselves a chance. 'We got fortunate, but made plays.' Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points while reserve Obi Toppin added 17, Myles Turner had 15 and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each added 14. 'It was a total team effort,' said Haliburton. 'We had so many guys chip in.' The finish evoked memories of the first game in the Eastern Conference finals, when a Haliburton buzzer shot forced over-time as the Pacers stunned New York. He has four such deciders in the playoffs. The Pacers seek the first NBA crown in their 58-year history while the Thunder, a champion in 1979 as Seattle, have not won a crown since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. 'We know we have a lot of work to do,' Indiana's Carlisle said. 'We have to play a lot better… and they are a menace defensively.' Indiana overcame 24 turnovers, allowing the Thunder only 11 points off them, and a 38-point performance by NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 'It's not rocket science. We have to be better,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. A 12-2 run pulled Indiana within 98-94 with 6:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, with Turner and Toppin each making two three-pointers. The Thunder, with the NBA's best regular-season record, clung to the lead but could not hold on. Aaron Nesmith and Nembhard sank back-to-back three-pointers to lift Indiana within 108-105 with 1:59 remaining and after a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander, Nembhard made two free throws and Siakam scored off a rebound to lift the Pacers within 110-109. Nesmith rebounded a Gilgeous-Alexander miss to set up Haliburton's game-winning shot. 'We just had to figure out how to win in so many different ways all year,' Haliburton said. 'We're a resilient group… we keep believing and we stay together.' The Thunder, who had a season-low 13 assists, took a 29-20 lead after one quarter and surged to a 57-45 half-time lead. 'We just had to hang in,' Carlisle said. 'We were within reach of still being in the game.' A Jalen Williams slam dunk produced the Thunder's biggest lead at 94-79 with 9:42 remaining, setting up the intense finish. 'As much as we can, we have to treat it like every other game,' said Gilgeous-Alexander. 'We haven't been in this situation but it doesn't mean our character has to change.' – © AFP 2025
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Indiana Pacers stun Oklahoma City Thunder in last second of NBA Finals Game 1
There was never a doubt in Tyrese Haliburton's mind. The Indiana Pacers star has done it too often -- especially in the 2025 playoffs -- to not have confidence in the closing seconds. Haliburton hit a 21-foot pull-up jumper in the final second on Thursday (Friday Irish time) as the Pacers completed a stunning comeback for a 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It was Haliburton's fourth big-time shot in the closing seconds during this year's playoffs. The Pacers hadn't led in the Thursday game until Halliburton drained his latest clutch hoop with 0.3 seconds remaining. "Ultimate confidence in himself," Indiana's Myles Turner said of Haliburton. "Some players will say they have it, but there are other players that show it. ... He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn't shy away from that moment." In Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs, Haliburton cut through the lane to hit a driving layup with 1.3 seconds left in overtime, giving the Pacers a win and ending the series against the Milwaukee Bucks. In Game 2 of the second round, he hit a step-back 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to put Indiana up one and put the Cleveland Cavaliers into a 2-0 hole. Then in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Haliburton hit another step-back shot that appeared to be the game-winner initially but was changed to a two that forced overtime against the New York Knicks. Indiana eventually won. The Thursday shot merely continued the pattern. Indiana trailed by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, and though the Pacers cut the deficit to one in the closing seconds, the Thunder had the ball in the Most Valuable Player's hands with a chance to put the Pacers away. However, Andrew Nembhard guarded MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tenaciously, helping force a missed fadeaway that opened the door for Haliburton's heroics. With 11 seconds left, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle trusted his team and didn't take a timeout. Haliburton worked his way down the court against Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace, driving just inside the 3-point arc before pulling up for a shot that briefly rattled around the rim before dropping through. "I had a pretty good idea," Haliburton said when asked whether he knew the shot was good. Indiana won despite turning the ball over 25 times -- 20 times in the first half alone. "It's not the recipe to win," Haliburton said. "We can't turn the ball over that much ... (but) come May and June, it doesn't matter how you get 'em, just get 'em." The best-of-seven series resumes with Game 2 on Sunday in Oklahoma City. "The series isn't first to one, it's first to four," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "So we have four more games to get. They have three, and that's just where we are." Game 1 was a gut punch for the Thunder, who led from the start and got 38 points from Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City managed just 11 points off the Pacers' giveaways, including just nine off Indiana's 20 first-half turnovers. The Pacers trailed by 15 early in the fourth quarter before chipping away at the deficit. Nembhard and Myles Turner each scored eight points in the period. Indiana cut the deficit to one with 48.6 seconds remaining on Pascal Siakam's putback following a missed 3-point attempt by Nembhard. Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points and added 10 rebounds. Obi Toppin had 17 points off the bench, Turner scored 15 and Nembhard had 14. Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. For Oklahoma City, Jalen Williams contributed 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting while Chet Holmgren was just 2 of 9 for six points. The Thunder led 94-79 with 9:42 remaining, but Indiana wasn't about to go away. The Pacers ripped off a 15-4 run to stay within striking distance, and then they surged ahead late. Oklahoma City hit just one field goal in the final four minutes, giving the Pacers the opening to come back. "We played like we were trying to keep the lead instead of trying to extend it or be aggressive," Williams said.
The 42
3 days ago
- The 42
Belfast player invited to NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves pre-draft workout
BELFAST BASKETBALL PLAYER CJ Fulton has been invited to participate in a pre-draft workout camp with NBA outfit Minnesota Timberwolves. The BBC reports that Fulton is set to take part in the event where he will get the chance to impress coaches at Timberwolves ahead of the NBA Draft, which will take place 25-26 June. Minnesota missed out on reaching the NBA Finals this season after losing a best-of-seven Western Conference finals series 4-1 to Oklahoma City Thunder. The 22-year-old Fulton, who is the son of former Ireland international Adrian Fulton, currently plays for college side the Charleston Cougar. He started out his basketball career with Malachy's College and Belfast Star in Northern Ireland before earning a move to America in 2020 where he joined up with Winchendon School in Boston. Advertisement If Fulton does manage to break into the NBA, he will follow in the footsteps Pat Burke and Susan Moran. Burke played for the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns while Moran was part of the WNBA's New York Liberty squad in the 2002 season.
