Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: (Left) Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrates the win, 111-110, with his last-second basket. (Right) Haliburton is shown driving up the court to score the winning bucket for the Pacers.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The visiting Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, winning 111-110.
The Pacers' victory was secured on a game-winning jumper by Tyrese Haliburton with 0.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
This was the Pacers' first lead of the game, after they had trailed by as much as 15 points.
This victory was the Pacers' first of the series, and they were the underdogs heading into the Finals.
Haliburton scored just 14 points, but his last basket was the difference maker.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points on 7-15 from the field (1-2 from 3), 10 rebounds, and three assists, giving the Pacers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's 2025 regular season MVP, scored 38 points for Oklahoma City, 14-30 from the field (3-6 from 3).
The Indiana Pacers mounted an incredible comeback in the fourth quarter. At one point, down 15 points, they managed to rally back, and in the end, Tyrese Haliburton put the team ahead late.
The Pacers and Thunder will play Game 2 on Sunday.
Multimedia Video: Game 1 Highlights
Headline Surfer You Tube download / NBA video / Game 1 Highlights: The Pacers defeated the Thunder, 111-110, in Oklahoma City. Pascal Siakam led the way for the Pacers with 19 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a team-high 38 points for the Thunder.
Did You Know?
• Tyrese Haliburton's shot to put the team ahead with 0.3 seconds remaining put him in the history books. That marks the fifth time this playoff run that he has made a go-ahead, game-winning, or game-tying shot within the last 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or in overtime, the most of any player in NBA playoff history. Ray Allen formerly held the record in his 2009 run.
• This was the fifth time this postseason that the Pacers have rallied from a 15-plus point deficit, the most by any team in the playoffs since 19981.
• The Pacers also have become just the third team in NBA Playoffs history to rally from a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter, joining the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and the 1992 Chicago Bulls.
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