NBA: Pacers hold up Oklahoma City as regulars to kick off the Finals

Trailing for almost the entire game, Tyrese Haliburton and his teammates won on the Thunder court on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Indiana, a regular. As is often the case in these playoffs, the Pacers turned around a situation that seemed compromised. With a basket from Tyrese Haliburton (14 pts, 10 rbs, 6 pds) with 0.3 seconds left, they won on the boards of OKC (110-111) Thursday, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Improbable considering that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (38 pts) and company were only behind for three-tenths of a second, after having a lead of up to 15 points. In addition to Haliburton, five Indiana players with 10 or more points: Pascal Siakam (19 pts), Obi Toppin (17), Myles Turner (15), Andrew Nembhard (14), and Aaron Nesmith (10). All with 25 turnovers, but only three after the break. The Pacers saw their three-point shooting skyrocket (47.6%) in the final, while simultaneously causing the home team's three-point shooting to plummet (36.7%). A perfect start to the final. OKC favorite? Perhaps. But it won't be easy... Game 2 on Sunday night (2 a.m.).
First news of the evening, Wallace's starting position in place of Hartenstein for OKC, which started strong and put on a lot of defensive pressure from the start (7-0). Newbard equalized from afar for the Pacers (10-10), who stayed in the game despite turnovers (9 in the 1st QT), the "SGA" show and Haliburton's discretion (16-13). Indiana still ended up paying the price (25-15, then 28-17). Rick Carlisle's defense, however, raised the tone in the second quarter (29-20 at the end of the 1st QT, then 41-37). But the turnovers rained down again and Dort was left hanging three times in a row (50-37). Fortunately for Indiana, the Thunder did not capitalize on these 20 turnovers (!) caused in the first period. At halftime, +12 was not a high price to pay (57-45 MT). Already 19 units for Shai.
All the ingredients were there for a stunning performance in favor of the home team, who pushed their lead to +14 (59-45) and maintained a double-digit lead in the third quarter. But these Pacers are indestructible, never dead, dominating on rebounds, solid on defense, and taking advantage of OKC's random skill. And they went back under 10 with 1:24 left in the quarter, then -6 thanks to Siakam (82-76) in the final minute. Oklahoma City had some breathing room with this cool-headed overtime from MVP "SGA" (85-76 at the end of the third quarter).
Like those two missed shots at the circle by Siakam and Mathurin, then that baseline throw-in by Pacer McConnell for... Thunder player Williams, Indiana gave the stick (94-79). The Paycom Center was on fire. "Loud City" deserved its nickname... And even more so after that crazy basket by Caruso (96-82)! The Pacers, however, still had it in them. Toppin and Turner scored from long range, twice each (98-94, then 100-96). The suspense was back on track. Things were getting complicated for OKC, Haliburton came out of the box (102-98) and Turner had a shot to get back to -1, missed. "SGA," on the other hand, didn't tremble (104-98), before sinking four shots (108-99). Over? Still not. Crazy finale! Nesmith and Nembhard's triples, SGA misses, Siakam under the rim... A one-point gap in the final minute (110-109)! SGA for the win... misses. Haliburton, inside (110-111). Three tenths to go. Not enough for OKC (110-111 final score). Mind-blowing.
lefigaro