Pacers Defy Basketball Odds...AGAIN

The NBA Finals tipped off last night, and it was... well, something for about 3 quarters. Then the Indiana Pacers’ 4th quarter boys came out to play... again.

The Oklahoma City Thunder flexed their muscles for 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds, tied or leading the entire way. But unfortunately for the Thunder, the game is a full 48 minutes of basketball, and Tyrese Haliburton did it again, hitting a buzzer-beating game-winner to give the Pacers a 1-0 Finals lead.

For the majority of this game, it was what many experts expected: the Thunder keeping their distance with a steady lead ranging from 7–18 points, using their elite defense to force 24 turnovers from the Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was in MVP form, finishing with 38 points to lead all scorers.

His supporting cast, though? Picked the wrong time to go cold.

• Chet Holmgren had a grossly underperforming game: just 6 points, on 2-for-9 shooting, with 6 rebounds. That’s a sharp contrast to his playoff averages of 16.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.0 BPG, which includes 10 games with 15+ points and 6 double-doubles.

• Jalen Williams added 17 points, but on 6-for-19 shooting. Not great for a guy averaging 21.4 PPG in the playoffs, with 8 games over 20 points.

Their off nights showed most clearly in the 4th, when they were outscored 35–25. SGA looked to be on his own down the stretch, and that’s when we saw Andrew Nembhard step in and start to frustrate him defensively.

What fueled the Pacers’ comeback, and what could be the scariest part for OKC, was the balanced attack. Six Pacers scored in double figures, and the clutch buckets came, as always, from Nembhard, who hit the shot to cut it to one possession, and then Haliburton, no surprise, hit the game-winner.

Over the past two years in the playoffs, these two haven’t always had the flashiest games, but come 4th quarter time, they just turn it on.

The Pacers’ clutch performances this postseason have been historic, pulling off multiple 15-point comebacks, and clawing back from 7+ point deficits in the final minutes of games. The Thunder, of course, are thought to be different, and we’ve seen them respond to losses with blowout wins before. But Chet & Jalen will need to show up stronger in support of SGA, because he can’t be expected to carry the entire load.

Now we’re left hoping this turns into the series we want, a battle between two teams that win in very different ways, both with unique Finals paths. Sunday night brings the next pivotal moment, with the Thunder looking to even the series as it shifts to Indiana.