Two days later, and we still can’t get over that Game 1 feeling.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION ?

June 7, 2025

• Moment Maker: The anatomy of Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch heroics
• Improbable Indy: How a defensive shift has helped fuel the Pacers’ record rallies
• Learning From Losses: OKC’s been here before. Can it bounce back again?
• Game 1 Frames: Capturing an all-time Finals opener, snapshot by snapshot
• Unforgettable: Jokić & Murray make history with twin 30+ point triple-doubles

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Game 2 tomorrow…

After an instant classic in Thursday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, the Pacers and Thunder return to practice and media sessions today (1:30 ET, NBA App) as they gear up for Sunday’s Game 2 (8 ET, ABC).

1. MOMENT MAKER: THE ANATOMY OF HALIBURTON’S CLUTCH HEROICS

“He’s not afraid of the moment – he is the moment.”

Those were the words of ABC’s Richard Jefferson after Tyrese Haliburton stunned Oklahoma City with a game-winning jumper in Game 1 of the NBA Finals — Indiana’s only lead of the night, coming with 0.3 seconds left.

Jefferson knows a thing or two about big shots on the big stage. He was on the floor for Kyrie Irving’s iconic Game 7 triple in the 2016 Finals — the shot that delivered Cleveland its first-ever NBA title.

Now, another young guard is emerging as one of the game’s most unshakeable closers – also seeking his franchise’s first championship.

Kings Of The Clutch: Haliburton now has five go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of a Playoff game – second only to LeBron James (8) in the play-by-play era.

Unprecedented: Four of those shots from Haliburton have come in this postseason alone – also a play-by-play record.

Haliburton delivering daggers time and again against the game’s best – under the brightest of lights – is no fluke. Instead, it’s just the latest chapter in what’s becoming one of the most clutch seasons in recent memory.

Ultimate Closer: Haliburton ranks second this season in go-ahead or game-tying field goals in the final two minutes of the 4th quarter or overtime, with 13 — trailing only Jalen Brunson (18).

What really separates the Indy guard, though, is his efficiency.

Class Of His Own: Haliburton’s gone 13-of-15 on such shots this season – good for an absurd 86.7% clip – more than 30% higher than the next closest player with 10+ attempts.

Historic Heights: That includes a 6-of-7 mark this postseason (85.7) — the highest percentage by any player in a single Playoff run since play-by-play tracking began (min. 5 attempts).

“He’s got the ultimate, ultimate confidence in himself,” said Pacers teammate Myles Turner of Haliburton after Thursday’s winner. “When it comes to those moments, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one to hit that shot.”

Haliburton lives for the moment.

But when the moment comes, how does he do it?

Simple — by getting to his spots. And like the rest of his game, those spots are anything but conventional.

Range: Haliburton’s late-game magic starts with his pull-up threat, where he shot 37.4% on 3s this season – a weapon when the clock winds down and the game speeds up.

Rhythm: While most right-handers prefer pulling-up moving left, Haliburton favors the right. Seven of his nine clutch jumpers have come from the top or right wing, including his Game 1 Finals winner.

Reminder: He’s more than comfortable going left too – in jaw-dropping fashion.

Feel: Overplay his jumper, and he’ll blow past you, with four of his 13 makes coming inside the paint.

Creativity: If all else fails? He can still pull this off ⬇️

“He’s a baller, man. He’s a hooper. He’s really just a gamer,” added Turner on Thursday. “It’s very important this time of year to have a go-to guy. And he just keeps seeming to find a way.”

2. HOW DEFENSE HELPS DRIVE INDY’S NO-QUIT MENTALITY

In the annual NBA GM survey ahead of the 2024-25 season…

Not a single person picked the Pacers to win the East.

Despite making the East Finals last season, few expected Indiana to be here. And that didn’t sit well with Tyrese Haliburton.

“After having success last year and that being looked at like a fluke in some people’s minds is a big motivation,” Haliburton said on Media Day in October.

“That adds chips on our shoulders … because we know what we’re capable of. We don’t need to talk about it, we’ll just be about it.”

Haliburton wasn’t lying. The Pacers have been about it all year, rewriting expectations – and erasing near-insurmountable deficits – time and time again.

But it hasn’t just been about the heroic shot-making. It’s been about buying in defensively — something Rick Carlisle emphasized from the jump.

“We believe defense is one of the things that’s got to be a constant if you’re going to win a championship,” Carlisle said back in October. “We believe we can get better … so a lot of time will be spent on it.”

That foundation has turned into results.

Clamping Down: Indy ranked 24th in defensive rating in 2023-24. This regular season, it improved to 14th.

When It Matters Most: In the Playoffs, the Pacers rank 3rd in DefRtg in clutch time, helping earn an 8-1 record in such games and fueling improbable comebacks at every turn.

How improbable is improbable? Well, in the play-by-play era…

• Entering Game 5 of the First Round vs Milwaukee, teams were 0-1,600 when trailing by 7+ points with 35 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana’s rally made it 1-1,600.
• By Game 2 of Indiana’s East Semis series vs Cleveland, teams were 2-1,621 when down 7+ with 48 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana’s win made it 3-1,621.
• As of Game 1 of the East Finals, teams were 0-971 when trailing by 14+ with 2:50 left in a Playoff game. Indiana’s shocking win vs NYK made it 1-971.
• In Finals games since 1971, teams were 0-182 when down 9+ points with three minutes left in a game. On Thursday, Indiana made it 1-182.

Across those four comebacks – over 7:13 of game time – the Pacers have allowed only eight points, three made field goals and forced five turnovers.

That included a 12-2 run to close out Game 1 of the Finals, where Indy held OKC to 1-of-6 shooting down the stretch — capped by a stop that gave Haliburton the ball, and the stage.

“We just kept getting stops,” said Haliburton postgame. “We just do a great job of just sticking in … All I know is this group is a resilient group and we don’t give up until there’s zero on the clock.”

3. LEARNING FROM LOSSES: OKC LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AGAIN

After holding a double-digit lead at home in the 4th quarter of Game 1, the Thunder found themselves clinging to a one-point edge with five seconds left – and on their heels defensively.

As time ticked down, the shot went up – and splashed. But Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t on the other end.

Instead, it was Aaron Gordon, giving the Nuggets a 1-0 lead over OKC in the West Semifinals on May 8, exactly one month from Thursday’s Game 1.

“We’ve been in this situation before,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Thursday’s loss. “In the other situation, we handled it well. We were better for Game 2, and that’s the goal.”

Much like the Finals opener, OKC controlled nearly the whole way in Game 1 of the West Semis, leading the entire 2nd half until the final 2.8 seconds.

Its Response? A Thunderous one. OKC dropped a Playoff-record 87 1st-half points in Game 2 on its way to a 149-106 win to even the series – which it ultimately claimed in seven.

That’s been OKC’s M.O. all season – answering.

It boasts an NBA-best 16-2 record following a loss, including a 4-0 mark in the Playoffs. In those games, SGA is averaging 33.5 ppg on 54.3% shooting and the Thunder are scoring 123.9 ppg.

After leading for 46+ minutes in Game 1, OKC has plenty to build on for Sunday.

Defense Swarms: The Thunder tallied a Finals record 12 steals in the 1st half on their way to forcing Indy into a season-high 24 turnovers.

Shai Shines: Offensively, SGA poured in a game-high 38 points – the third-most in a Finals debut in NBA history.

Deciding Swing: After entering the Finals with a +42 total Playoff point differential in the 4th quarter, OKC was outscored 35-25 in the final frame – dropping its first home Playoff game since Gordon’s shot dropped a month ago.

And by looking back, the Thunder know the only way to go is forward.

“The Playoffs take you to the limit and they put your back against the wall,” said coach Mark Daigneault after Thursday’s loss. “It gives you rich experiences that you can draw on…

“The biggest experience we’ve had is understanding that every game is a new game. The most important game of the series is the next one.”

4. GAME 1 FRAMES: CAPTURING AN INSTANT CLASSIC

Game 1 of the NBA Finals had it all – an electrifying environment, late-game drama and a finish for the ages.

Before turning the page to Sunday’s Game 2 (8 ET, ABC), let’s relive the classic through some of our favorite frames.

5. UNFORGETTABLE: JOKIĆ & MURRAY MAKE HISTORY IN 2023 FINALS

Two 30-point triple-doubles by a pair of teammates in the same NBA game.

It had never been done before. Not in a regular season game. Not in a Playoff game. And certainly not in the Finals…

Until two years ago today.

Coming off a Game 2 loss at home, the Nuggets arrived in Miami tied 1-1 with the Heat, searching for a win to regain control of the series.

What happened next was unprecedented, as Nikola Jokić (32 pts, 21 reb, 10 ast) and Jamal Murray (34 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast) became the first duo ever to record 30-point triple-doubles in the same game.

Their historic effort powered Denver to a 109-94 win, reclaiming the series lead and rewriting the record books in the process.

Here’s how it looked from the sideline at the time — through the eyes of former Nuggets coach Michael Malone:

“By far their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together … Regarding Nikola, nothing he does surprises me ever. This guy has shown time and time again that he’s built for these moments. He thrives in these moments – the biggest stage…

“Jamal – I’m so proud of him. I could tell from speaking to him yesterday, being around him for the last 48 hours that he was putting a lot of Game 2 on him. And it wasn’t just him … But that’s what champions do. That’s what warriors do – they battle back.

“And I just felt his presence all day long. Forget the stats – I felt Jamal Murray’s presence. His energy. He was here. He was in the moment. And for him and Nikola to do what they did tonight, in a game that we needed … it was special to watch.”

The Nuggets never lost after that, winning the series in five games to claim their first championship in franchise history.

Source: NBA