Haliburton’s Heroics: Pacers Steal Game 1 in Stunning NBA Finals Comeback

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In a dramatic Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers pulled off what may be the most thrilling win of their Cinderella playoff run. Down by 15 points in the fourth quarter against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers clawed back and sealed a 111–110 victory on Haliburton’s clutch jumper with just 0.3 seconds remaining. It was Indiana’s first and only lead of the night—and it came when it mattered most.

“I mean, basketball's fun. Winning is fun,” Haliburton told reporters after the game, grinning after hitting his fourth game-winner of these playoffs. With that shot, Haliburton has become the face of late-game magic for Indiana, pulling off last-minute victories in each of their previous three series. The Thunder, led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38-point performance, appeared in control for most of the game. They were 36–1 at home this season when leading by 15 or more—until now. Even head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged Indiana’s resilience. “They keep playing. They keep coming,” he said.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle may deserve just as much credit. With 9:42 remaining in the fourth and his team trailing by 15, he called a bold timeout and substituted all five players. The move worked. Indiana outscored Oklahoma City 17–4 in the next few minutes, completely shifting the momentum. “We’ve had lots of experience in these kinds of games,” Carlisle said, referencing previous tight wins and even drawing comparisons to the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, a team he coached to a comeback Finals win against the Miami Heat.

Beyond Haliburton’s heroics, Indiana’s depth showed. Pascal Siakam led the team with 19 points, Obi Toppin added 17 off the bench, and Myles Turner chipped in 15. Their balanced scoring allowed Indiana to weather a sloppy night—25 turnovers—and still manage to win.

Game 2 is set for Sunday night in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to bounce back, but the Pacers now hold the early momentum—and the growing belief that no deficit is too big for this team.