NBA Finals: Pacers Prove Again They’re Built For Chaos With Game 1 Jaw-Dropper

Tyrese Haliburton’s go-ahead floater capped off a furious fourth-quarter rally and gave the Pacers a 111-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Indiana now leads the series, 1-0.

“It ain’t over until it’s over,” Haliburton told ABC’s Lisa Salters after the game. Oklahoma City would likely agree.

Here’s how the Pacers pulled off yet another comeback win:

1. A Rough Start Gave Way to Something Familiar

Indiana was out of sync in the first half. Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense turned the Pacers’ fast-paced style into a turnover clinic. Indiana gave the ball away 19 times in the opening two quarters — the most of any team in a single half this postseason.

Rick Carlisle pleaded for cleaner possessions, but early on, the Pacers kept forcing the ball into crowds and couldn’t get downhill. At halftime, they trailed by 12 and looked overwhelmed.

2. The Three-Point Advantage Finally Showed Up

Eventually, Indiana settled down and did what it’s done better than anyone during this playoff run — shoot from deep. The Pacers hit six threes in the fourth quarter. The Thunder made none.

Indiana leads all postseason teams in both 3-point percentage and makes per game. That edge didn’t show until late, but when it did, it turned the game.

3. Another Collapse by the Opponent, Another Statement by the Pacers

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s decision to sit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for key stretches in the fourth won’t go unnoticed. But make no mistake, Indiana has done this to every team it’s faced. Milwaukee. Cleveland. New York. And now Oklahoma City.

This is who the Pacers are — resilient, relentless, and impossible to bury.

At this point, calling it a comeback feels like an understatement.