In a heart-pounding Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton delivered a moment for the ages. With just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock, the Indiana Pacers’ All-Star guard sank a mid-range jumper that sealed a dramatic 111–110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. For a franchise that hasn’t reached the NBA Finals in 25 years, Haliburton’s heroics provided not only a thrilling win but a massive confidence boost in their quest for the championship.
A Moment that Defined a Game
With the Pacers trailing by one and the game seemingly slipping away, head coach Rick Carlisle drew up a final play out of a timeout. The target? Haliburton—Indiana’s floor general and offensive catalyst. The inbound found him near the top of the key. He took a single dribble to his left, rose over the outstretched arms of Thunder defender Lu Dort, and calmly knocked down the jumper.
The arena erupted. Haliburton, known more for his unselfish playmaking than late-game heroics, ran back down the court stone-faced, flanked by ecstatic teammates. There was no time for Oklahoma City to respond. The buzzer sounded, and Game 1 belonged to the Indiana Pacers.
Haliburton’s Quiet Start, Loud Finish
What made the final shot even more impressive was how quiet Haliburton had been for much of the night. Through three quarters, he had just 9 points and appeared to be struggling to find his rhythm. Oklahoma City’s defense was relentless, hounding him with traps and forcing the ball out of his hands.
But Haliburton stayed patient. He directed the offense, found his teammates, and waited for his moment. That moment came in the final 90 seconds, when he scored six of Indiana’s last eight points, including the dagger. He finished with 14 points, 10 boards, 6 assists, on 46% shooting, a stat line that doesn’t fully capture his impact on the game’s outcome.
Thunder Strike First, But Can’t Finish
The Thunder entered Game 1 riding high. They had dominated the Western Conference playoffs, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge. True to form, Gilgeous-Alexander was spectacular in Game 1, dropping 38 points on a variety of floaters, pull-ups, and acrobatic drives. He looked unguardable for much of the night and had the Thunder up by as many as 15 points in the third quarter.
Oklahoma City exploited Indiana’s sloppiness early, forcing 19 turnovers in the first half alone. The Pacers seemed out of sync, rattled by the Thunder’s length and defensive pressure. But as the game wore on, Indiana settled down, adjusted to the speed of the Finals, and began to chip away at the deficit.
The Pacers’ Supporting Cast Steps Up
While Haliburton delivered the signature moment, he didn’t do it alone. Myles Turner was huge on both ends of the floor, finishing with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim gave Indiana a fighting chance.
Obi Toppin brought energy off the bench, contributing 17 points and a critical putback dunk late in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to one. Andrew Nembhard, meanwhile, played perhaps his best game of the postseason. The second-year guard from Gonzaga kept the offense flowing when Haliburton sat, and even spent some time guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, holding his own against one of the league’s most dynamic scorers.
Together, the Pacers’ ensemble cast gave Haliburton the platform to shine—and they were all mobbing him after the buzzer-beater.
A Franchise Reborn
This Finals run has been years in the making for Indiana. After decades of mediocrity and multiple first-round playoff exits, the Pacers retooled their roster around youth, versatility, and unselfishness. Haliburton, acquired in a bold midseason trade in 2022, was the centerpiece of that shift.
His arrival changed the culture. The Pacers now play faster, share the ball more, and defend with a collective intensity. And while Haliburton was already seen as a rising star, his Game 1 performance showed that he’s capable of delivering under the brightest lights.
For the city of Indianapolis, long starved for NBA glory since the Reggie Miller era, Haliburton’s game-winner was a cathartic release. Fans roared in celebration, sensing this could be the beginning of something special.
Thunder Left Stunned
For the Thunder, Game 1 was a gut punch. They did so many things right. Their defensive rotations were sharp, their ball movement crisp, and their bench contributed solid minutes. Jalen Williams added 17 points, and Chet Holmgren had 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Yet it wasn’t enough. Oklahoma City struggled to execute in the final minutes, missing open looks and committing costly turnovers. A questionable no-call on Gilgeous-Alexander’s final drive with 12 seconds left gave Indiana one last chance—and Haliburton made them pay.
Coach Mark Daigneault emphasized postgame that it’s a seven-game series and that his young squad would regroup. But there’s no doubt that losing Game 1 in such dramatic fashion stings.
What’s Next in the Series?
With the Pacers up 1–0, the pressure now shifts to the Thunder to respond in Game 2. Adjustments are expected—particularly in how they handle Haliburton in late-game situations. Dort, their defensive specialist, will likely be tasked with even more minutes on Indiana’s star guard, and expect Oklahoma City to run more late-game offense through their secondary scorers to take some pressure off Gilgeous-Alexander.
For Indiana, Game 2 is a massive opportunity. Winning the opener was big; taking a 2–0 lead on the road would tilt the series dramatically in their favor. But they’ll need to clean up their turnovers and continue to get big contributions from their bench to pull it off.
Carlisle’s team has already shown it can punch back after adversity, but doing it twice in Oklahoma City would make a powerful statement.
Haliburton’s Legacy Moment
Moments like Haliburton’s game-winner often define careers. Though just 24 years old, Haliburton is already seen as one of the league’s premier guards. This shot—on the road, in the Finals, with less than a second on the clock—elevates his status to a new level.
He joins a short list of players who have delivered game-winners in the NBA Finals, joining names like Michael Jordan, Kyrie Irving, and Ray Allen. While there’s still a long way to go in this series, Haliburton’s buzzer-beater is already etched into NBA lore.
More than that, it showcased the DNA of this Pacers team: resilient, fearless, and unafraid of the moment.
Final Thoughts
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals lived up to every expectation—and then some. It was a battle of two rising teams led by two of the league’s brightest young stars. And while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dazzled as expected, it was Tyrese Haliburton who owned the night with his 0.3-second masterpiece.
The Pacers now hold a 1–0 series lead and the momentum. But if this game was any indication, fans are in for a wild, unforgettable Finals series. Game 2 can’t come soon enough.
