MANILA, Philippines — Just as Thunder fans began celebrating what looked like a sure victory, Tyrese Haliburton silenced the Paycom Center with a stunning jumper to steal Game 1, 111-110, on Friday, June 6, 2025 (Manila Time).
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| Tyrese Haliburton sinks the game-winner and stuns OKC, stealing Game 1 for the Pacers in dramatic fashion. Photo Credit: X/NBA |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struck first for the Oklahoma City Thunder, drawing first blood and officially setting the tone for the 2025 NBA Finals opener against the Cinderella-story Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers, however, stumbled out of the gate, struggling to find rhythm in the opening minutes as the Thunder poured in buckets to build an early lead.
Indiana eventually shook off the early-game jitters and ramped up their offense, matching OKC’s scoring pace to level the game midway through the first quarter.
After tying the game, the Pacers’ energy faded. They committed seven turnovers in the first quarter, and Tyrese Haliburton remained scoreless, contributing to their early deficit against the Thunder.
The Thunder’s aggressive start paid off, closing the first quarter with a 29-20 lead, led by MVP Gilgeous-Alexander’s 12 points.
Pascal Siakam stepped up in the second quarter, cutting the Pacers’ lead. But as Indiana fought to close the gap, Alex Caruso surged forward to shut down their comeback attempts.
Lou Dort, who has been outstanding all playoffs, finally got on the scoreboard for OKC late in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Pacers kept committing turnovers that kept them trailing.
Indiana had several chances to close the gap, but constant turnovers pulled them out of rhythm. The Pacers racked up 18 in the first half alone, allowing OKC to control and enjoy the opening two quarters of Game 1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capped the half with a slick left-handed layup, stretching OKC’s lead to 57-45 and sending them into the break with momentum.
The trend continued as the second half began. Indiana made several pushes to get back in the game, but Oklahoma City had an answer each time, shutting down every run to stay in control.
Despite trailing all game, the Pacers stayed upbeat, knowing the Thunder’s lead was still manageable, with the largest gap only reaching 13 points.
Credit to Indiana for nearly shutting down Gilgeous-Alexander in the third quarter. While OKC’s main man went quiet, Lou Dort stepped up big, knocking down three after three to carry the scoring load in the penultimate period.
Aside from Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein also made life difficult for Indiana’s big men, protecting the paint and helping fuel OKC’s strong third-quarter showing.
The third quarter ended with a thrilling shootout, as both teams traded triples down the stretch. But it was the Thunder who had the last laugh, closing the period with an 85-76 lead.
OKC opened the fourth quarter by attacking relentlessly in the paint. Led by Caruso, the Thunder guards kept pressuring Indiana’s backcourt, driving hard and breaking down the Pacers’ interior defense.
Refusing to fold, Indiana responded with a barrage of three-pointers. Big man Myles Turner and OB Toppin stepped outside and knocked down key shots from deep to keep the game within reach.
Midway through the fourth, Indiana came knocking, trimming a 15-point deficit down to just 4. Red-hot shooting from beyond the arc fueled the Pacers' comeback and put pressure on the Thunder.
Just as the Pacers inched closer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up and made the final push to protect OKC’s home court. The reigning MVP delivered clutch buckets down the stretch, extending the lead as time ticked away.
With two minutes left, Indiana cut the lead to just three. A minute later, only a single point separated the two Finals contenders, setting up a nail-biting finish.
Just as Oklahoma fans were ready to celebrate, Tyrese Haliburton silenced the crowd with a cold-blooded jumper, giving the Pacers their first lead of the night with just 0.3 seconds remaining.
COMEBACK. COMPLETE.
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
EVERY ANGLE OF @TyHaliburton22's GAME 1 WINNER!!
The 3rd 15-PT 4Q comeback in the Finals since 1971 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/heI0ELIivW pic.twitter.com/NkFBcZpbS6
OKC had one final shot off a catch-and-shoot, but it missed the mark, sealing a stunning 111-110 comeback win for Indiana in Game 1.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express