Tyrese Haliburton’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Pacers to Stunning Game 1 Finals Win Over Thunder
In a dramatic Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers shocked the Oklahoma City Thunder with a last-second 111–110 win on the road, thanks to a clutch 21-foot jumper by Tyrese Haliburton with just 0.3 seconds left. The Pacers, who trailed the entire game, mounted a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback to steal a pivotal win and take a 1–0 lead in the series.
The Thunder came out firing in the first half, forcing 19 turnovers and building a double-digit lead behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s aggressive play. OKC led 29–20 after the first quarter and stretched that margin to 57–45 by halftime. Indiana looked disjointed, unable to find rhythm against the Thunder’s physical defense.
In the third quarter, Indiana began to chip away at the lead. Myles Turner found his range, and Haliburton started facilitating with more urgency. The Pacers closed the quarter trailing 85–76, still facing an uphill battle.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Indiana. Down 15 points with under 10 minutes to play, head coach Rick Carlisle substituted the entire lineup—a move that sparked a 15–4 run. Key three-pointers from Turner and Obi Toppin ignited the offense, while the Pacers locked in defensively.
With the game hanging in the balance, Tyrese Haliburton stepped up in the biggest moment of his career. With the clock ticking under a second, he drained a 21-footer to give Indiana its first—and only—lead of the game, sealing a miraculous win.
It was the latest game-winning shot in NBA Finals history since Michael Jordan’s 1997 dagger, and it instantly shifted momentum in Indiana’s favor.
Key Performances:
- Tyrese Haliburton: 14 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST (Game-winner with 0.3 seconds left)
- Pascal Siakam: 19 PTS, 10 REB
- Obi Toppin: 17 PTS off the bench
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 38 PTS (game-high for OKC)
Game 2 of the Finals tips off in Oklahoma City later this weekend, with the Thunder now desperate to avoid falling into an 0–2 hole at home.
