Pacers commit 19 first-half turnovers in Game 1 of NBA Finals against Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Indiana Pacers started the NBA Finals by making the wrong type of history.
The Pacers committed 19 turnovers in the first half of Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. It was the highest number of turnovers by a team before halftime of a postseason game during the league's digital play-by-play era, which goes back to the 1997 playoffs.
Advertisement
There has not been a 20-turnover first half in any NBA game since Nov. 17, 2007, when the New Jersey Nets — the franchise that now plays in Brooklyn — had that many in the first two quarters of what became a 91-87 loss to the Miami Heat.
The Pacers had nine turnovers in the first quarter, 10 more in the second. But they were only down 57-45 at the half, in part because Oklahoma City had turned the 19 Indiana giveaways into only nine points.
Oklahoma City led the NBA this season in turnovers forced, averaging 17.0 per game in the regular season.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises
Norway's Alexander Sørloth celebrates scoring with teammates during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via AP) Belgium's Maxim De Cuyper, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group J qualifying soccer match between North Macedonia and Belgium at National Arena Todor Proeski in Skopje, North Macedonia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) Italy's Alessandro Bastoni, left, and Diego Coppola challenge Norway's Erling Braut Haaland during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via AP) Norway's Erling Braut Haaland, right, celebrates scoring with Martin Ødegaard during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Lise Åserud/NTB via AP) Norway's Antonio Nusa celebrates scoring during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Lise Åserud/NTB via AP) Norway's Antonio Nusa celebrates scoring during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Lise Åserud/NTB via AP) Norway's Alexander Sørloth celebrates scoring with teammates during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via AP) Belgium's Maxim De Cuyper, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during a World Cup 2026 group J qualifying soccer match between North Macedonia and Belgium at National Arena Todor Proeski in Skopje, North Macedonia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) Italy's Alessandro Bastoni, left, and Diego Coppola challenge Norway's Erling Braut Haaland during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Cornelius Poppe/NTB via AP) Norway's Erling Braut Haaland, right, celebrates scoring with Martin Ødegaard during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Lise Åserud/NTB via AP) Norway's Antonio Nusa celebrates scoring during the qualifying World Cup soccer match between Norway and Italy at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Friday June 6, 2025. (Lise Åserud/NTB via AP) Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the first time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday. Haaland collected a through ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the box for the third goal three minutes before halftime. Advertisement It was his 41st goal in his 42nd match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, including King Harald V of Norway. Haaland also scored when Moldova was beaten 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained perfect in qualifying after three games in Europe Group I. Striker Alexander Sorloth received a precise pass from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot. Nusa, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, was a constant threat to the Italian defense. He left behind two defenders and doubled the advantage with a rising shot from inside the area. Italy was missing some regulars for its first qualifying match, while others failed to impress, including Mateo Retegui, the best Serie A scorer. Advertisement Defenders Alessandro Buongiorno and Mattia Gabbia, defensive midfielder Manuel Locatelli and forward Moise Kean were all injured while key center back Francesco Acerbi, who was meant to mark Haaland, turned down his callup. Diego Coppola played center back in the three-man defensive line used by coach Luciano Spalletti that was not able to stop Norway. Norway dominates, Italy in trouble In the other Group I game, Israel won in Estonia 3-1 for a second win and second place. The Azzurri are under pressure from the start of their qualifying after failing to reach the last two World Cups. Winning the group is the only way to ensure direct qualification to next year's tournament in North America. The second-placed team goes into the playoffs — the stage where Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia and ruled out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Advertisement A four-time World Cup champion, the only other time Italy didn't qualify was for the 1958 edition. Italy hosts Moldova on Monday when Norway will be in action at Estonia. Croatia cruises, Belgium held Croatia opened its qualifying with a 7-0 rout of minnow Gibraltar. Mario Pašalić and Ante Budimir struck twice for Croatia within two minutes to break the deadlock after half an hour. In the second half, substitutes Andrek Kramaric and Franjo Ivanovis scored a couple each and Ivan Perisic piled on. Croatia was runner-up in the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022. In the same Group L, Adam Hložek and Patrik Schick each scored as the unbeaten Czech Republic beat Montenegro 2-0 for a third straight win. Advertisement Belgium was 1-0 up on a goal by defender Maxim De Cuyper but Ezgjan Alioski salvaged a draw for North Macedonia in a surprise in Group J. Wales tops the group with seven points from three games after a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein. North Macedonia was two points behind. Europe to contribute a third of all teams Europe will have 16 teams in the expanded 48-team field for the World Cup. They will come from the winners of the 12 qualifying groups plus four from a playoff of the 12 group runners-up together with four best-ranked group winners in the Nations League that don't finish first or second in the qualifying. The group stage of European qualifying runs through November. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kyle Teel gets a new shirt as he joins the Chicago White Sox for big league debut
CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Teel has a new collared shirt and his own big league opportunity. Teel, one of the majors' top prospects, was brought up by the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The 23-year-old catcher was in the starting lineup for the opener of a weekend series against Kansas City, batting sixth. Advertisement Teel was acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade with the Boston Red Sox in December. He batted .295 with eight homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games with Triple-A Charlotte. When Chase Meidroth, another prospect who was acquired by the White Sox in the Crochet deal, was brought up in April, Meirdroth told Teel he might need a collared shirt for his major league arrival, and Teel gave the infielder one of his own. So Charlotte manager Sergio Santos returned the favor when he broke the news to Teel that he was going to Chicago, handing over a new shirt. Teel was the No. 14 pick in the 2023 amateur draft out of the University of Virginia. His arrival marks a positive moment for a last-place White Sox team in the middle of a painful rebuilding process. Advertisement Chicago also optioned catcher Korey Lee to Charlotte and designated right-hander Ryan Cusick for assignment. The 26-year-old Lee was sidelined by a sprained left ankle before he was activated by the White Sox on May 27. He is batting .250 (7 for 28) in 14 games with Chicago this season. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'Overrated' Haliburton having last laugh after latest winner
Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton shoots the winning basket with 0.3seconds remaining in game one of the NBA Finals (MATTHEW STOCKMAN) Two months after being named the NBA's "most overrated player" in an anonymous poll of his peers, Tyrese Haliburton is having the last laugh. The 25-year-old point guard delivered the latest in a series of game-winning moments on Thursday with a last-gasp basket as the Indiana Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in game one of the NBA Finals. Advertisement Haliburton's winning bucket -- with just 0.3secs remaining -- was the latest entry to an impressive catalogue of clutch shots he has pulled off since the playoffs got under way. The Pacers talisman has now made a go-ahead or game-tying basket in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime on four separate occasions during the postseason. "I'm obviously confident in my ability and feel like if I can get to that spot, I feel very comfortable in there," Haliburton said of his winner. "It's a shot I've worked on a million times and I'll work on it a million times more. Just have confidence in that shot." Advertisement Haliburton's winner came after the NBA's newly crowned Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had missed a 15-foot jump shot that would have given OKC a three-point cushion with 11 seconds left. Ironically,the same player poll in The Athletic in April which dubbed Haliburton "overrated" had overwhelmingly backed Gilgeous-Alexander as front-runner for MVP. Haliburton did not even feature in the shortlist of contenders. - 'Ultimate confidence' - Indiana center Myles Turner says Haliburton is at his best when the chips are down, relishing the pressure of when a games is on the line. Advertisement "Ultimate, ultimate confidence in himself," is how Turner described Haliburton. "Some players will say they have it but there's other players that show it, and he's going to let you know about it, too. He's a baller and a hooper and really just a gamer. "When it comes to the moments, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn't shy away from the moment and very important this time of the year to have a go-to guy. He just keeps finding a way and we keep putting the ball in the right positions and the rest is history." Haliburton's knack of delivering under pressure has become emblematic of a Pacers side that gives the impression of a team that has forgotten how to lose. Thursday's comeback marked the fifth time during these playoffs when the team has recovered from a 15-point-or-greater deficit to win. Advertisement "Through the course of the game it felt like it could get ugly," Haliburton reflected afterwards. "I thought 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 we get it to 10 and how do we get it to five and from there. "I don't know what you say about it but I know that this group is a resilient group and we don't give up until it's 0.0 on the clock." Andrew Nembhard said the Pacers had remained calm despite a shaky first half performance in which they coughed up nearly 20 turnovers. "We stay connected," Nembhard said. "We're going to play until the whistle blows." rcw/bb
