The Indiana Pacers experienced significant travel delays on Tuesday while heading to Oklahoma City for the NBA Finals opener. Their chartered flight was forced to land in Tulsa because of severe weather conditions in the Oklahoma City area.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton commented on Wednesday during NBA Finals media day, saying the unexpected detour made the trip feel excessively long. “We might as well have traveled to Portland or something,” he quipped.
The National Weather Service reported at least one tornado near Norman, less than 30 miles south of Oklahoma City, around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The Pacers` flight had departed Indianapolis shortly after 3 p.m. ET and was expected to land in Oklahoma City around 4:30 p.m. local time after a typical two-and-a-half-hour flight. The diversion more than doubled their total travel time, extending the journey to five hours.
Haliburton described his experience: “I took off and I slept the whole plane ride, which I don`t normally do. When we landed, I was ready to get off, but they told us we were in Tulsa.” He added, “It was a long travel day, but what can you do? None of us can control the weather. There`s worse problems in life. We`ll be fine.”
This year`s NBA Finals represents a significant return for both participating franchises. The Pacers are back on the league`s biggest stage for the first time since 2000, when they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. This is only Indiana`s second Finals appearance since joining the NBA in 1976 following the ABA–NBA merger.
Haliburton expressed his enthusiasm for the moment. “I`m excited to be here, obviously,” he said. “The Finals is a very special thing and something I`ve wanted to be a part of my whole life. So to be here means the world and I`m just taking it all in, soaking it all in. Really excited for this moment.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder, meanwhile, last reached the Finals in 2012, featuring a young core that included Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, who were defeated by the Miami Heat in five games. The franchise`s sole NBA championship dates back to 1979, when the team was known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
Game 1 is scheduled to tip off on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Jasper Hawthorne