The much-awaited NBA finals are here. And Game 1 was no less than an absolute thriller. With both the teams looking like prospective champions, the quality of basketball was extremely high. However, while most fans and critics expected an easy win for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Indiana Pacers proved why exactly they must not be counted out. And at the helm of all this was none other than Tyrese Haliburton.
Facing off against a daunting side comprising of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co., the Pacers had an uphill battle. And much to their fans’ delight, the Pacers secured a 111-110 victory to take an early 1-0 lead in the finals. In the first couple of quarters, it was the Thunder who took control of proceedings. Going 29-20 and 28-25 in the Q1 and Q2, it looked like it would be Thunder running away with the game.
But Haliburton again proved why he is the next big thing to watch out for. At the very last minute, Haliburton leaped up to score a clutch winner for the Pacers to get over the line in the crucial game. Haliburton played for 39 minutes, scoring 14 points, six assists, and a whopping 10 rebounds. Looking at how the Pacers went, it was clear that the entire team came together to notch up a victory.
WHAT THE HALIBURTON AGAIN 😱
— ESPN (@espn) June 6, 2025
TYRESE WINS GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS FOR THE PACERS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TLv6OtQyWV
The likes of Myles Turner (15), Pascal Siakam (19), Aaron Nesmith (10), Andrew Nembhard (14) and more all chipped in with crucial points. However, despite suffering a crushing defeat, there were positives for the Oklahoma City Thunder to take away, too.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines For The Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pacers have surely rattled the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, that doesn’t mean that all hopes are lost for the Thunder. In fact, they can take heart from the fact that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked in sublime touch throughout the game. Playing for 40 minutes, the NBA MVP looked unstoppable. SGA dropped an impressive 38 points, with five rebounds and three assists.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 1 of the #NBAFinals
— Joseph⚡️ (@jbenefield_44) June 6, 2025
14/30(46.7%)
3/6(50%) 3pt
7/8(87.5%) FTs
38 Points(Game High)
3 Assists
5 Rebounds
3 Steals
+3
Starts off his FMVP performance off with a great game just couldn’t finish it off with a win..#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/Cdqx7kDU8i
Unfortunately, that was all from the Thunder. Others failed to capitalize on SGA’s fine form. Chet Holmgren (6), Jalen Williams (17), Lu Dort (15), and others were left wanting. Thus, with the Indiana Pacers drawing first blood, it now remains to be seen how the rest of the games pan out.
Also Read: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Becomes First Player Since Stephen Curry To Achieve A Unique Feat In NBA
