The NBA finals got off to a stunning start with the Indiana Pacers snatching victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the final second.
Tyrese Haliburton scored to the Pacers in front for the first time in the match, with 0.3 seconds remaining as they secured a 111-110 win.
HALIBURTON WINS GAME 1 FOR THE PACERS.
THEY TRAILED BY 15.
ANOTHER CRAZY INDIANA COMEBACK 🚨 https://t.co/heI0ELIivW pic.twitter.com/1Qr6XlDbA7
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
The Thunder, with home court advantage for the first two games, had led by 15 points and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the chance to wrap up a win before his miss led to the winning shot.
Indiana won despite turning the ball over 25 times, with 20 of those coming in the first half.
“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 them, just get them.”
Team-mate 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.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was the game’s leading scorer with 38 points, while Pascal Siakam top scored for the Pacers with 19 points, followed by Obi Toppin with 17.
“We played like we were trying to keep the lead instead of trying to extend it or be aggressive,” said the Thunder’s Jalen Williams.
Game two of the best-of-seven series is also in Oklahoma and will start at 19:00 local time on Sunday, 8 June.
