Thunder versus. Pacers NBA Finals score: Tyrese Haliburton astonishes OKC with the game-winning goal to end an intense Indiana comeback in Game 1
In one of the most electrifying opening games in recent NBA Finals history, Tyrese Haliburton etched his name into basketball lore with a game-winning shot that sent a jolt through the Paycom Center and established the tone for what promises to be a series defined by grit, momentum swings, and unrelenting intensity. The Indiana Pacers, seemingly down and out late in the fourth quarter, orchestrated a remarkable comeback fueled by Haliburton’s vision, poise, and ultimately, his audacity to take the final shot. As the clock ticked down in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton rose above Oklahoma City’s elite defenders and buried a mid-range jumper with just 1.6 seconds remaining, silencing the Thunder crowd and giving the Pacers a shocking 114-113 win over the favored Thunder.
This was not supposed to be Indiana’s night. The Thunder, a young and surging team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had controlled much of the game. They dominated early, building double-digit leads behind suffocating perimeter defense and dynamic shot creation. The crowd was electric, the building pulsing with anticipation as Oklahoma City chased its first NBA title since 1979. When Jalen Williams hammered home a fast-break dunk midway through the third quarter to push the Thunder lead to 17, it seemed like Game 1 was already tilting too far in OKC’s favor. But the Pacers, led by head coach Rick Carlisle and anchored by Haliburton’s leadership, refused to fold.
Haliburton, often hailed for his court vision and unselfish play, showed another side of himself in this game—an unrelenting desire to take over in the biggest moments. While his passing was on full display throughout the game, racking up 12 assists and constantly manipulating the Thunder’s defense, it was his scoring that truly set the tone late. He finished with 27 points, none more important than the final two. But it was the manner in which he scored them that encapsulated who Haliburton has become: a rising superstar unafraid of the spotlight.
With the game tied at 112 and under 30 seconds to go, Oklahoma City had a chance to take the lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in 31 points and had been nearly unguardable in isolation situations all night, drove to his left and pulled up for what looked like a go-ahead mid-range jumper. But Indiana’s Myles Turner, known more for his rim protection than his perimeter defense, switched onto Gilgeous-Alexander and contested just enough to alter the shot. The ball rimmed out, and the Pacers secured the rebound with just over seven seconds remaining. Carlisle elected not to call timeout. He trusted Haliburton to make the right decision in the open floor—and that’s exactly what he did.
With Lu Dort pressuring him across half court, Haliburton used a subtle hesitation dribble to create separation. As the Thunder defense backpedaled, expecting either a drive or a kick to the wing, Haliburton rose from just inside the arc and calmly drained the jumper. The net barely moved. The buzzer didn’t even need to sound; the stunned silence from the Oklahoma City crowd said it all. Haliburton backpedaled toward his bench, arms raised, before being mobbed by teammates. Indiana had stolen Game 1, and it had done so behind the brilliance and cold-blooded composure of its point guard.
For the Pacers, this win represents far more than just a 1-0 lead in the series. It’s a validation of their blueprint, a testament to the team-first culture that Carlisle has cultivated, and a symbol of the rise of Haliburton as not just an All-Star, but a true franchise cornerstone capable of delivering on the biggest stage. The Pacers, who had been overlooked throughout much of the playoffs despite dispatching the Celtics and Knicks in impressive fashion, came into this series as underdogs. They lacked the national hype, the big-market glitz, and the pre-series predictions in their favor. What they did not lack, however, was resilience.
That resilience was tested throughout Game 1. Indiana trailed by as many as 19 in the third quarter. Oklahoma City was hitting from deep, exploiting mismatches, and locking down Indiana’s shooters. The Thunder looked every bit like a team poised to make a statement in their Finals debut. But slowly, the Pacers chipped away. Bennedict Mathurin provided a crucial scoring burst off the bench, Myles Turner hit a pair of timely three-pointers, and Andrew Nembhard’s defense on Josh Giddey in the fourth quarter helped turn the tide. Still, it was Haliburton who carried Indiana across the finish line.
What makes Haliburton’s performance even more remarkable is how controlled and efficient it was. He committed just one turnover all night, despite handling the ball for most of Indiana’s possessions. He shot 10-of-17 from the field, and when it mattered most, he was decisive. There was no hesitation in his final move, no second-guessing about whether to pass or shoot. That clarity of purpose is what separates stars from superstars, and Haliburton took a giant step toward the latter category on this night.
On the other side, the Thunder now face adversity they haven’t seen much of during this playoff run. Game 1 was theirs for the taking. They had the lead, the home crowd, and momentum on their side, but they couldn’t close. Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant for much of the night, but he missed his final two shots. Chet Holmgren had a double-double but struggled to impose his will in the paint late. The Thunder’s bench, which had been a strength in the Western Conference Finals, was largely neutralized by Indiana’s active perimeter defense. The loss doesn’t doom Oklahoma City by any stretch—they remain a deep, well-coached, and immensely talented team—but it does change the narrative. They are no longer the team with the upper hand. Indiana now owns home-court advantage, and more importantly, the confidence that comes with a road win.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was measured in his postgame comments, crediting Indiana for its resilience while noting the need for better late-game execution. He emphasized that the series is far from over, and that Oklahoma City has responded well to challenges all season. But even he couldn’t mask the sting of a game that slipped through his team’s fingers.
As for Haliburton, he was almost subdued in the postgame interviews, deflecting praise and focusing on the collective effort. “We’ve been counted out a lot this year,” he said. “But we believe in each other, and we trust the work we’ve put in. That last play—Coach told me to take it if I had the look, and I took it. I knew it was going in.” That quiet confidence is part of what makes Haliburton such a unique leader. He doesn’t need theatrics or bravado. His game speaks volumes.
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals will be remembered for its dramatic finish, for the shift in momentum it created, and for the arrival of Tyrese Haliburton as a bona fide playoff star. The Pacers now head into Game 2 with a chance to take full control of the series, while the Thunder must regroup and respond. In a Finals full of youth, promise, and hunger, it was Indiana’s floor general who proved that composure and courage are timeless traits.
The road ahead promises more drama, more late-game heroics, and more battles of will. But whatever comes next, the series has already delivered a defining moment—and it belongs to Tyrese Haliburton.
