Pacers Pull Off Stunning 15-Point Rally in NBA Finals Opener
Basketball fans were left in disbelief as the Indiana Pacers erased a double-digit deficit and snatched Game 1 of the NBA Finals from the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110. Down by 15 at the start of the fourth quarter, it looked like Indiana was outmatched, but their refusal to give up turned the opener into an instant classic.
Pascal Siakam set the tone for the Pacers with an efficient night—19 points on 7-of-15 shooting. He hit one shot from deep and grabbed 10 rebounds as he battled the Thunder's frontcourt, chipping in three assists as well. Siakam’s balanced game helped patch things together for Indiana until their offense exploded late.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed determined to carry Oklahoma City over the line. He torched Indiana’s defense for 38 points, hitting 14 of his 30 shots and 3-of-6 from the arc. But even the biggest solo effort couldn’t protect the Thunder from the Pacers’ late surge.
With the Thunder holding what felt like a safe lead, the Pacers slowly chipped away. Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin made timely shots. Andrew Nembhard’s hustle on defense caused key turnovers. Sparks really flew in the closing moments though, when Tyrese Haliburton’s poise took over. Nerves through the roof, Pacers fans watched as Haliburton, for the fifth time in this playoff run, drilled a crucial shot with under 30 seconds remaining. But this one was different: just 0.3 seconds left, and his jumper sailed in to put Indiana up for good.
Historic Comeback Echoes NBA Legends
That game-tying or game-winning clutch DNA is what’s turning Haliburton from rising star to postseason legend. And this specific Pacers rally stands out in NBA lore. Only two other teams—the 2011 Mavericks and 1992 Bulls—have come from at least 15 points down in the final quarter to win a Finals game. The Pacers have now come back from such a deficit five times in this postseason alone, the most by any team since 1998.
This wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan comeback. The Pacers have made bouncing back a habit. The confidence was obvious: even when the odds stacked high, they didn’t tense up, they “punched back,” as players like Siakam have said in postgame interviews. That resilience is quickly becoming their identity.
Game 2 in Oklahoma City didn’t go Indiana’s way—they dropped that game as the Thunder evened the series. But heading back home to Indianapolis, the Pacers found their groove again. On June 11, Bennedict Mathurin powered off the bench for 27 points, helping Indiana take Game 3 by a score of 116-107 and put them ahead 2-1 in this thrilling series.
Fans and analysts are realizing this Finals clash is far from predictable. Each game is swinging with different heroes and wild momentum shifts. With the Thunder searching for a way to close out games and the Pacers never backing down, the rest of the series suddenly feels wide open. People tuning in aren’t just watching for basketball—they’re watching to see if more history will be made.