Pacers emulate Mavs’ memorable Finals feat as comeback specialists overhaul Oklahoma City
The Indiana Pacers took an early series lead in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, after producing yet another epic comeback.
The 2025 NBA Finals kicked off with a bang, thrilling basketball fans everywhere. In an epic fourth-quarter comeback, the Indiana Pacers clinched a nail-biting 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton the hero
Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock, after the Pacers had fought back from 15 points down with 9:42 remaining.
That equals the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a Finals game since the Dallas Mavericks also overturned a 15-point deficit to defeat the Miami Heat in 2011.
Postgame SCENES as the Pacers take a 1-0 lead in the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV 🍿
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
Game 2: Sunday at 8:00pm/et on ABC! pic.twitter.com/vdWa6Cx5IL
Pacers: masters of the comeback
The Pacers seem to have a knack for dramatic comebacks. This season alone, they’ve secured epic victories over the Milwaukee Bucks (119-118 in overtime on April 29), the Cleveland Cavaliers (120-119 on May 6), and the New York Knicks (138-135 in overtime on May 21).
Siakam spearheads Pacers win
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers in scoring with 19 points in Game 1, followed by Obi Toppin with 17, Myles Turner with 15, and both Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard with 14 points each.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a phenomenal game, scoring 38 points for the hosts. However, the Canadian’s efforts weren’t enough to change the outcome of the Finals opener.
HALIBURTON WINS GAME 1 FOR THE PACERS.
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2025
THEY TRAILED BY 15.
ANOTHER CRAZY INDIANA COMEBACK 🚨 https://t.co/heI0ELIivW pic.twitter.com/1Qr6XlDbA7
When is NBA Finals Game 2?
Oklahoma is also the venue for Game 2 of the 2025 championship series, which takes place on Sunday, June 8. Tip-off at Paycom Center is at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the action on ABC. You can stream ABC’s coverage on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial. You’ll also have the option of following AS USA’s live-text coverage.
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