One Second to Write History: Lakers Resilience Shines in NBA Finals Opener
In a thrilling display of basketball excellence, the Indiana Pacers emerged victorious in the first game of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110. The game was decided in the final seconds, as Tyrese Haliburton delivered a picture-perfect jump shot with just 1.6 seconds remaining on the clock.
Haliburton's heroics were not a one-man show, however. The Pacers had to overcome their own mishaps and the Thunder's relentless defense to pull off the upset. The team's resilience and determination were on full display as they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second quarter to take the lead in the final minutes of the game.
Despite the Thunder's dominant performance throughout the night, the Pacers refused to be intimidated. They stayed close enough to put themselves in a winning position and believed in their ultimate winner—Haliburton. The point guard finished with 14 points, but his impact on the game felt like it was much more.
"The ball ended in Obi's [Toppin] hands, and he passed it to me," Haliburton said. "I'm obviously confident in my ability. And feel like, if I can get to that spot, I feel very comfortable there."
Haliburton's shot was one he had practiced a million times and will continue to practice a million more. The Pacers' coach, Rick Carlisle, echoed this sentiment, saying, "Hopefully get the ball in Tyrese's hands and make a play."
The Pacers' resilience was evident throughout the game. They forced Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into taking an overwhelming share of the offense, and they stopped treating the ball like it was doused in Crisco, committing just five turnovers in the second half.
"I think that on this stage, you don't have time to be stunned, you know, you don't have time to be disappointed again," Myles Turner said. "But we weathered the storm. We were resilient."
The Pacers' journey to the NBA Finals has been filled with outside conversations and doubts about their place in the league. But as Haliburton said, "I think as a group, we take everything personal. It's not just me, it's everybody. We do a great job of taking things personal, and that gives this group more confidence."
In the end, it was Haliburton's cold-blooded shot that sealed the deal for the Pacers. The moment proved that sometimes, all it takes is one and six-tenths of a second to write history.
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