In the heart-warming first game in the 2025 NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton offers a moment for age groups. The Indiana Pacers’ All-Star Guard had only 0.3 seconds left, sinking the mid-range jumper, which led to a 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. For a franchise that hasn’t reached the NBA Finals for 25 years, Halliburton’s heroism not only provides exciting wins, but also brings great confidence to boost their pursuit of championships.
Define the moment of the game
The game seemed to slip as the Pacers fell behind, with head coach Rick Carlisle taking the last game from the timeout. Target? Halliburton – India’s flooring general and offensive catalyst. Inbound finds him near the top of the key. He dribbles on the left, stood up on Thunder guard Lu Dort’s outstretched arm, calmly knocking down the jumper.
The arena broke out. Haliburton, known for his selfless playback, rather than a late hero, ran back to the court, flanked by ecstatic teammates. Oklahoma City has no time to respond. The buzzer rang and the first game belonged to the Indiana Pacers.
Halliburton’s quiet starts and ends loudly
What makes the last shot even more impressive is how quiet Halliburton is all night. In three quarters, he only scored nine points and seemed to be trying to find his own pace. Oklahoma City’s defense is ruthless, chasing him with a trap and forcing the ball out of his hands.
But Halliburton remained patient. He directed the offense, found his teammates, and waited for his moment. That moment came in the last 90 seconds, when he scored six points in the final eight points of Indiana, including the dagger. He scored 46% from the field with 14 points, 10 boards and six assists, a statistic that doesn’t fully capture his impact on the game results.
Thunder strikes first, but cannot complete
The Thunder entered the first game. They dominated the Western Conference playoffs, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge. Indeed, Gilgeous-Alexander was spectacular in Game 1, down 38 points on various floats, pull-ups and acrobatic drives. He looked unable to defend most of the night, and in the third quarter, the Thunder had a whopping 15 points.
Oklahoma City took advantage of Indiana’s wet early, forcing 19 turnovers in the first half alone. The Pacers seemed out of sync, with the length of the thunder and the pressure of defensiveness shocking. But as the game progressed, Indiana settled down, adjusted to the pace of the finals, and began to get out of the deficit.
The Pacers Support Actor Steps
Haliburton delivered the signature moment, but he didn’t do it alone. Myles Turner was huge on both ends of the floor, ending with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the edges gives Indiana a chance to fight.
Obi Toppin brought the bench, contributing 17 points and key dunks at the end of the fourth quarter, reducing the lead. Meanwhile, Andrew Nembhard may have played his best game in the playoffs. As Haliburton sat down, the sophomore defender from Gonzaga made the offense flow and even spent some time guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, against one of the league’s most dynamic scorers.
Together, the Pacers’ ensemble cast provided Halliburton with a glowing platform, all besieging him behind the buzzer.
Franchise Rebirth
This final has been created for Indiana for several years. After decades of mediocrity and multiple first-round playoff exits, the Pacers have reorganized the youth, versatility and selflessness. Haliburton’s bold postseason trade acquisition in 2022 is at the heart of this shift.
His arrival changed the culture. The Pacers are playing faster now, sharing the ball, and defending at collective strength. Although Haliburton has been seen as a rising star, his first performance shows his ability to deliver under the brightest lights.
For the City of Indianapolis, a long-awaited NBA glory since the time of Reggie Miller, Halliburton’s game title was a cathartic release. Fans roared during the celebrations, feeling like this might be some special start.
Thunder was shocked
For the Thunder, the first game was a gut feeling. They did a lot of things. Their defensive rotations are sharp, the ball moves clearly, and the bench contributes solid time. Jalen Williams added 17 points, while Chet Holmgren scored six points and six rebounds.
But it’s not enough. Oklahoma City struggled to execute in the last few minutes, lacking an open look and causing expensive lapses. Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 seconds left in his final game, which gave Indiana a last chance, while Haliburton made them pay.
Coach Mark Digneault stressed that after the game, it was a seven-game series where his young team would regroup. But there is no doubt that the first game was lost in such a dramatic fashion sting.
What’s next for this series?
With the Pacers improving to 1-0, the pressure now turns to the Thunder’s response in Game 2. Expected adjustments – especially how they handle Halliburton late in the game. Their defensive expert Dort may have more time on Indiana’s star guard and hopes Oklahoma City will take more late attacks with its second-point scorer to relieve pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander.
Game 2 is a huge opportunity for Indiana. Winning the opening game is very big. A 2-0 lead on the road will make the series a huge leaning. However, they need to clean up the mistakes and continue to get a lot of contributions from the bench to achieve.
Carlisle’s team has shown that it can be fought back after adversity, but doing it twice in Oklahoma City will make a strong statement.
Halliburton’s legacy moment
Moments like Haliburton’s game champion often define careers. Although he is only 24 years old, Haliburton has been regarded as one of the league’s prime ministers. This time shot – In the final, lasting less than a second, his status was raised to a new level.
He joined a player who won the game in the NBA Finals, joining names such as Michael Jordan, Kyrie Irving and Ray Allen. Although there is still a long way to go in this series, Halliburton’s buzzer has been engraved in NBA legend.
In addition, it also demonstrates the DNA of this pacemaker team: the resilience, fearlessness and troubles of the moment.
The final thought
The first game of the 2025 NBA Finals met every expectation, followed by some expectations. It’s a battle between two rising teams led by two of the league’s smartest young stars. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s expectations were dazzling, Tyrese Haliburton owned the night with a 0.3-second masterpiece.
The Pacers now have the lead and power of the 1-0 series. But if there is any sign of this game, fans will be in the wild, unforgettable final series. Game 2 cannot be fast yet.
