The Indiana Pacers turned the ball over 25 times and trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter, but they turned the tide with a furious late-game surge—capped off by a last-second game-winning shot—to shock the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 111-110 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 6.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 38 PTS | 5 REB | 3 STL | 55.5 FPS
SGA was a force on both ends of the floor, putting up 19 points and tallying three combined steals and blocks in a dominant first half. He stepped up again in crunch time, scoring 10 points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. However, it wasn’t enough to get a win. Despite that, his postseason brilliance continues—he just became one of only three guards in NBA history to average 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists over 15 playoff games.
Lu Dort 15 PTS | 4 STL | 2 BLK | 39.3 FPS
Dort brought the energy on both ends of the floor, delivering a major spark for the Thunder. Offensively, he caught fire from deep—especially in the third quarter—finishing with his fifth playoff game with at least four made threes. On the defensive end, he was a menace, racking up four steals in the first half alone and helping the Thunder build a double-digit lead. Oklahoma City finished with a +13 edge in steals, capitalizing on the Pacers’ 25 turnovers. Dort’s intensity set the tone, and it could be a difference-maker as the series continues.
Alex Caruso 11 PTS | 3 STL | 2 BLK | 35.2 FPS
Caruso was an immediate difference-maker in the first half – dropping 7 points along with all-around contributions including strong defensive numbers. His minutes was the most of the team off the bench and he should continue be a big factor in this series in both offense and defense moving forward.
Jalen Williams 17 PTS | 4 REB | 6 AST | 33.8 FPS
JDub struggled most of the game but started hot in the fourth with six points pushing the team to it’s biggest lead. He’s certainly a capable scorer, but he continues to have problems with inefficiency in the postseason, shooting under 36% in six playoff games. While he continues to make up for it with his solid all-around game and strong defense, the team will also need him at his best on offense for them to clinch a win in Game 2.
Isaiah Hartenstein 9 PTS | 9 REB | 1 STL | 22.8 FPS
Hartenstein was a major factor off the bench despite playing under 20 minutes. With the Pacers pushing the pace of the game, he’ll likely remain in that role moving forward. Still, he should continue to be an important contributor in the interior—especially after the Pacers held a +17 rebounding advantage in Game 1.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Pascal Siakam 19 PTS | 10 REB | 3 AST | 37.5 FPS
Siakam remains the driving force on offense, leading the team in scoring today while maintaining his streak of double-digit performances throughout the playoffs and also recording his 18th career postseason double-double. He was a big part of the team’s rally in the second half, dropping 8 points in the third quarter to help trim the deficit to just six, then came through in the clutch with key plays down the stretch in the fourth. The Pacers will continue to rely on him on offense in the remainder of the series.
Tyrese Haliburton 14 PTS | 10 REB | 6 AST | 35.0 FPS
Haliburton may not have had a strong offensive performance, but once again, he delivered when it mattered most—knocking down the game-winning shot. He’s been ice-cold in crunch time in their postseason run, now with a buzzer-beater in each of the Pacers’ four playoff series. He also recorded double-digit rebounds for second the time and also notched his 10th double-double in this playoffs. Even if he continues to face challenges against the Thunder’s defense in Game 2, Haliburton’s all-around impact gives him every chance to lead the Pacers to another big win.
Myles Turner 15 PTS | 9 REB | 3 BLK | 28.8 FPS
Turner has been very efficient on offense, shooting at least 50% from the field for the seventh straight game and hitting double figures in scoring in 15 playoff games so far. He stepped up big in the fourth quarter of Game 1, pouring in 8 crucial points to keep the Pacers within striking distance. Defensively, he’s just as special—recording his eighth playoff game with 3 or more blocks. He should be poised for more strong performances especially if he finds consistency in shooting.
Aaron Nesmith 10 PTS | 12 REB | 1 BLK | 23.9 FPS
Nesmith had a difficult time against the Thunder’s defense, with 5 turnovers in Game 1 after totalling 6 in their series against the Knicks. Still, he continues to make a noticeable impact, recording his third playoff game with at least 12 rebounds while also staying productive from the three-point area. He should also maintain a significant role on both ends of the floor in this series.
Obi Toppin 17 PTS | 5 REB | 2 AST | 23.0 FPS
Toppin got off to a shaky start in Game 1, committing a few turnovers in the first half. But he flipped the script after the break, catching fire from three and giving the Pacers a much-needed spark. With both teams leaning into small-ball lineups, he should continue to see a key role in the series. He hasn’t had many breakout scoring performances in the playoffs but if he brings the same impact he showed in the second half, the Pacers are in great position to grab another win.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Chet Holmgren 6 PTS | 6 REB | 1 BLK
Holmgren struggled badly on offense and finished with his lowest scoring game of the postseason. Before this he’s been a reliable offensive contributor, scoring in double-digits in eight straight games. That said, he should be in line for a strong bounce back performance in Game 2.
