Haliburton Gives Pacers Victory with Dramatic Finish in NBA Finals
In a thrilling encounter filled with unexpected twists, Tyrese Haliburton scored with only 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock, giving the Indiana Pacers their first and only lead of the game, securing an epic victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first game of the NBA Finals, with a final score of 111-110.This triumph, marked by the Pacers’ ability to come back in the last minute, adds to a series of dramatic victories that have defined their path in these playoffs.
Haliburton’s basket becomes the latest game-winning shot in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan achieved it in 1997. The Pacers’ comeback, who started the game as 10-point underdogs, represents the second-biggest upset in the Finals in the last three and a half decades.We are a resilient group. We don’t give up until the clock hits zero. We do a great job of staying in the moment.
Tyrese Haliburton
The Pacers achieved a 15-point comeback in the final quarter, tying the biggest comeback in a Finals game in recent years.
The Pacers’ coach, Rick Carlisle, has been key in the Pacers’ strategy, demonstrating once again his ability to guide the team to victory in critical moments.- On April 29, the Pacers overcame a 118-111 deficit in overtime against Milwaukee, winning 119-118.
- On May 6, they overcame a 119-112 deficit against Cleveland with 48 seconds remaining, finishing with a 120-119 victory.
- On May 21, they overcame a 121-112 deficit against New York in the final 51.1 seconds, winning 138-135 in overtime.
The second game of the series will be played in Oklahoma City on Sunday night.
The Thunder led by 15 points at the start of the final quarter, but the Pacers managed to close the gap, demonstrating their fighting spirit.
They keep coming. They keep playing. They made plays. They made shots. They deserve to win by one point.
Mark Daigneault, Thunder coach
