The opening game of the 2025 NBA Finals lived up to the intense anticipation. On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers delivered a remarkable 111-110 upset victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The win was clinched by a crucial 12-2 scoring run in the final 2:38, culminating in a decisive go-ahead jumper from Tyrese Haliburton with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
Making his NBA Finals debut, Haliburton contributed 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. His dramatic last-second shot gave the Pacers their very first lead of the game.
Indiana found themselves trailing by as much as 15 points during the fourth quarter. This comeback win marks the fifth time in this year`s playoffs that the Pacers have overcome a deficit of at least 15 points to secure a victory – a record in the play-by-play era. Additionally, the Pacers made history as the first team since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers to win an NBA Finals game despite committing 25 turnovers.
Clutch performances are becoming a signature for Haliburton this postseason. The Pacers` star guard previously orchestrated one of the most dramatic playoff outcomes in recent memory during the Eastern Conference finals last month against the Knicks. In that game, he sank a fadeaway jumper from the top of the key to force overtime in a contest where Indiana had overcome a 14-point deficit late in the fourth.
Earlier in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Haliburton also hit a game-winning 3-pointer with only 1.1 seconds left, securing a tight 120-119 win for his team.
Following Haliburton`s latest heroics, the dramatic conclusion of Game 1 sparked widespread reaction across the NBA and the broader sports community.
Reactions from the Sports World
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark commented on the finish, likely echoing the feelings of many neutral viewers who witnessed the thrilling end.
NBA legend Magic Johnson, widely considered among the greatest point guards ever, expressed his astonishment at the game`s outcome.
Back in Indiana, fans celebrated the hard-fought victory enthusiastically, despite being over a thousand miles away from the action.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey conveyed his disbelief regarding the dramatic conclusion.
Georges Niang, a forward for the Atlanta Hawks and a fellow Iowa State alumnus like Haliburton, was also visibly shocked by the events.
Haliburton`s impressive playoff run has captured the attention of WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale.
Stars from the Dallas Cowboys, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, also weighed in with their thoughts on Haliburton`s clutch shot.
With the Pacers now holding a 1-0 lead in the series, Oklahoma City faces the pressure to rebound quickly to avoid falling into a challenging 2-0 deficit before the series heads to Indiana next week. Former Pacers standout Victor Oladipo shared his perspective on the situation.
Pat McAfee, a former punter for the Indianapolis Colts and a known Pacers enthusiast, affectionately referred to Indiana`s superstar as `Tyrese big shot Halliburton`.
While Game 1 against Oklahoma City marked Haliburton`s first appearance in the NBA Finals, he has already etched a memorable, signature moment onto basketball`s grandest stage.
Jasper Hawthorne