If you were looking for a predictable start to the 2025 NBA Finals, you probably turned the TV off halfway through the third quarter. Most people did. The Oklahoma City Thunder were doing exactly what everyone expected: dismantling the Indiana Pacers. But by the time the final buzzer rang at the Paycom Center on June 5, 2025, the scoreboard told a story that left the NBA world in a collective state of "wait, what?"
The Indiana Pacers won the first game of the NBA Finals, edging out the Thunder 111-110.
It wasn't just that they won. It was how they did it. This was a game where the Pacers trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter. They spent basically the entire night getting bullied by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Yet, they walked out with a 1-0 lead.
The 0.3-Second Dagger
Honestly, the most insane part of this game is that Indiana only led for a grand total of 0.3 seconds. That’s it. Just the blink of an eye between Tyrese Haliburton’s jumper falling through the net and the clock hitting zero.
Haliburton didn't even have a "great" game by his standards. He finished with 14 points and 6 assists. But the dude has this weird, clutch gene that seems to activate only when things look impossible. After SGA put the Thunder up 110-109 with a cold-blooded bucket, Haliburton took the ball, drove, and hit a leaning two-point jumper that silenced one of the loudest crowds in sports.
It was the latest game-winning shot in a Finals opener since Michael Jordan sunk the Jazz back in '97. That’s the kind of company the Pacers are keeping now.
Why the Thunder Blew a 15-Point Lead
Everyone wants to talk about the comeback, but we should probably look at how OKC let this slip away. They were dominant. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was playing like the MVP he is, dropping 38 points and making the Pacers' defenders look like they were wearing skates.
The Thunder led 57-45 at the half. They were up 94-79 early in the fourth.
Then Rick Carlisle did something kind of nuts. He pulled all five starters. He saw his team playing lethargic, turnover-heavy basketball—they had 25 turnovers in total, which is usually a death sentence—and he just cleared the bench. T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin came in and played like their lives depended on it. Toppin hit five three-pointers. McConnell was a nuisance.
By the time the starters came back in, the lead was down to four. The momentum had shifted, and OKC couldn't get it back.
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Key Stats From Game 1
- Final Score: Pacers 111, Thunder 110
- Leading Scorer (Winner): Pascal Siakam (19 points, 10 rebounds)
- Leading Scorer (Overall): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (38 points)
- Turnover Margin: Pacers 25, Thunder 7 (Yes, Indiana won despite this)
- The Comeback: Indiana trailed by 15 points in the 4th quarter
Pascal Siakam: The Quiet Anchor
While Haliburton got the highlights, Pascal Siakam was basically the reason the Pacers were even close enough to steal it. He had 19 points and 10 boards. He played 35 minutes of exhausting defense. In a game where Indiana turned the ball over 18 more times than the Thunder, you need a veteran who doesn't panic.
Siakam has been through the Finals wars before with Toronto. You could see that experience in the way he settled the team down when the Paycom Center was shaking.
What This Means for the Rest of the Series
History says winning Game 1 is huge. Historically, the team that takes the opener wins the series about 70% of the time. But this series ended up being an outlier.
The Pacers proved they weren't just a "happy to be here" team. They forced the Thunder to play a seven-game grind. Even though OKC eventually took the trophy—winning Game 7 behind more brilliance from SGA—the first game of the NBA Finals set the tone for the most competitive championship series we've seen since 2016.
If you’re looking at why Indiana made it that far, it goes back to that June night in Oklahoma. They proved that no lead is safe against a team that doesn't know how to quit.
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Actionable Insights for Basketball Fans
- Watch the Bench: If you're analyzing a playoff series, don't just look at the stars. Rick Carlisle’s use of the "second unit" in Game 1 changed the entire trajectory of the 2025 Finals.
- Turnovers aren't everything: Usually, a -18 turnover margin means a 30-point blowout. The Pacers won by dominating the glass (56 rebounds to OKC's 43). Efficiency matters, but extra possessions from offensive boards can offset sloppy passing.
- Study the "Carlisle Reset": The next time your favorite team is down big, watch for the coach to pull a "line change." It’s a high-risk move that rarely happens in the Finals, but it’s a masterclass in psychological management.
The 2025 NBA Finals started with a shock, and while the Oklahoma City Thunder eventually secured their first title since moving from Seattle, they had to go through hell to get it because of what happened in Game 1.