Pacers sink Thunder on Tyrese Haliburton's last-second shot
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tyrese Haliburton scored with 0.3 seconds left for Indiana's first and only lead of the game and the Pacers, the last-minute comeback kings of these playoffs, did it again to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
Haliburton's shot is the latest game-winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan did it in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN Research.
And the Pacers' first lead of the game with 0.3 seconds remaining was the latest into any Finals game over the last 50 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"We're a resilient group," Haliburton said afterwards during an interview on ESPN's "SportsCenter." "We just keep saying that to you guys. You guys keep asking us, and we keep giving you the same answer. We're a resilient group and we don't give up till the clock hits zero. We do a great job of just staying in the moment. Try to get from 15 to 10 (down), 10 to 5, 5 to 0. We just walk teams down. Real proud of this group."
The Pacers, who closed as a 10-point underdog, pulled the second-largest upset in the Finals in the last 35 seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers as 12-point favorites in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals.
The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, matching the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in a finals game since the Dallas Mavericks came from 15 down to beat the Miami Heat on June 2, 2011.
Tyree Haliburton's all-white button up leads stylish arrivals to Game 1 of the NBA Finals5hESPN StaffAnd once again, Indiana found a way at the end in these playoffs. On April 29, it trailed Milwaukee 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime and won 119-118. On May 6, the Pacers trailed Cleveland 119-112 with 48 seconds left and won 120-119. On May 21, they trailed New York 121-112 with 51.1 seconds left in regulation and won 138-135 in overtime.
"We've had to win so many different ways all year," Haliburton said on "SportsCenter." "During the regular season. During the playoffs. So why would that change during the Finals? We just keep staying at it and keep believing. And that's the result we get."
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points. Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.
Game 2 is at Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The Thunder opened as 11.5-point favorites.
Oklahoma City led by 15 early in the fourth when Carlisle called time and subbed out all five players, seeking a spark. It worked. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 15-4 over the next 3:26 -- getting within 98-94 on a 3 by Turner with 6:16 left.
They never stopped, all the way to the end.
Haliburton's shot is the latest game-winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan did it in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN Research.
And the Pacers' first lead of the game with 0.3 seconds remaining was the latest into any Finals game over the last 50 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"We're a resilient group," Haliburton said afterwards during an interview on ESPN's "SportsCenter." "We just keep saying that to you guys. You guys keep asking us, and we keep giving you the same answer. We're a resilient group and we don't give up till the clock hits zero. We do a great job of just staying in the moment. Try to get from 15 to 10 (down), 10 to 5, 5 to 0. We just walk teams down. Real proud of this group."
The Pacers, who closed as a 10-point underdog, pulled the second-largest upset in the Finals in the last 35 seasons. The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers as 12-point favorites in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals.
The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, matching the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in a finals game since the Dallas Mavericks came from 15 down to beat the Miami Heat on June 2, 2011.
Tyree Haliburton's all-white button up leads stylish arrivals to Game 1 of the NBA Finals5hESPN StaffAnd once again, Indiana found a way at the end in these playoffs. On April 29, it trailed Milwaukee 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime and won 119-118. On May 6, the Pacers trailed Cleveland 119-112 with 48 seconds left and won 120-119. On May 21, they trailed New York 121-112 with 51.1 seconds left in regulation and won 138-135 in overtime.
"We've had to win so many different ways all year," Haliburton said on "SportsCenter." "During the regular season. During the playoffs. So why would that change during the Finals? We just keep staying at it and keep believing. And that's the result we get."
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points. Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 38 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.
Game 2 is at Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The Thunder opened as 11.5-point favorites.
Oklahoma City led by 15 early in the fourth when Carlisle called time and subbed out all five players, seeking a spark. It worked. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 15-4 over the next 3:26 -- getting within 98-94 on a 3 by Turner with 6:16 left.
They never stopped, all the way to the end.