The Indiana Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, staged an epic comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 110-111 in the first game of the NBA Finals.
Haliburton, the comeback wizard
Despite a discreet performance in terms of personal scoring (14 points), Haliburton once again demonstrated his ability to lead comebacks. This triumph adds to a series of spectacular playoff victories, including games against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks.
A Complicated Start for the Pacers
The game started with difficulties for Indiana, who struggled against Oklahoma’s solid defense and accumulated 20 turnovers in the first half. However, the Pacers didn’t give up and, with an outstanding performance in the final quarter (25-35), managed to close the gap and secure the victory.Featured Statistics
- Pascal Siakam contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.
- Obi Toppin scored 17 points, with excellent three-point shooting (5 of 8).
- Myles Turner added 15 points and 9 rebounds.
The accuracy in three-pointers (18 of 39, 46.2%) was key to keeping the Pacers in the game during the most difficult moments.
The Thunder’s Performance
On the Thunder’s side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout player with 38 points, but the team failed to maintain the lead, which at one point reached 15 points. Lu Dort also had a notable performance, but the team’s low field goal percentage (39.8%) and three-point percentage (36.7%) prevented them from securing the victory.
