NBA Finals: Haliburton s buzzer beater caps historic Pacers comeback

Tyrese Haliburton has once again solidified his reputation as one of the NBA's most clutch performers, delivering a breathtaking game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left to cap a furious rally and stun the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. This improbable victory saw the Indiana Pacers overcome a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, marking their first and only lead of the entire game. The Thunder's last-gasp alley-oop attempt fell short, leaving a stunned Oklahoma City crowd in silence as the Pacers celebrated a monumental road win.

Haliburton's heroics are becoming a recurring theme in these playoffs, with this being his latest game-winner following similar feats against the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers, all capping spectacular comebacks. He also forced overtime against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals with a buzzer-beater. "We’ve just had to figure out how to win in so many different ways all year, past two years," Haliburton told ESPN postgame. "We’re a resilient group. We keep believing and we stay together. It ain’t over until it’s over."

The Pacers' collective effort saw six players score in double figures, with no individual exceeding 19 points, a stark contrast to MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's sensational 38-point performance for the Thunder. This shocking upset spoiled what had largely been a dominant night for OKC, who entered the Finals as heavy favorites after a stellar regular season and impressive Western Conference playoff run.

Thunder controlled the game but... Yes, a huge 'but'

For the majority of Game 1, the Thunder appeared to be in complete control, leveraging their trademark swarming defense. They forced 19 Pacers turnovers in the first half, while Indiana managed only 15 made field goals, allowing OKC to build a 57-45 lead by halftime. Despite the turnover disparity, the Pacers managed to stay within striking distance by limiting Oklahoma City to 37% shooting. A halftime message from head coach Rick Carlisle to "stay with the process" seemed to ignite the Pacers' turnaround.

Indiana drastically cut its turnovers to just five in the second half and found its rhythm from beyond the arc. Despite a late third-quarter surge from Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's lead remained at 85-76. Early in the fourth, OKC extended its lead to a game-high 94-79. However, the Pacers responded with a decisive 15-4 run, fueled by back-to-back threes from Obi Toppin and Myles Turner, shrinking the deficit to 98-94 and putting the home crowd on edge.

Even after the Thunder pushed their lead back to 108-99 with under three minutes remaining, defying historical odds (teams trailing by 9+ points in the final three minutes of an NBA Finals game since 1971 were 0-182), the Pacers refused to yield. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard hit crucial threes, and Pascal Siakam brought them within one. A missed jumper by Gilgeous-Alexander then set the stage for Haliburton's heroics. The Pacers finished the game shooting an outstanding 46.2% from three-point range (18-of-39), with nine different players contributing from deep. Their improved ball security and solid defense in the second half ultimately sealed one of the most memorable NBA Finals Game 1 comebacks in recent history. Game 2 is set for Sunday.