Thunder strikes back - MVP's dance in Oklahoma

Oklahoma lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals in a miraculous way. The Thunder led practically the entire game, but Tyrese Haliburton literally stole the win in the final possession. Everyone in Oklahoma was determined not to repeat the same mistake in Game 2 and to defend home court. Mark Daigneault’s squad succeeded in that, defeating the Pacers 123–107 to tie the series.

From the start, the Pacers looked confused, lacking offensive ideas, and with long-range shooting that was anything but threatening to Oklahoma. The Thunder benefited from the reckless pace Indiana imposed, which led to turnovers and missed shots for the Pacers, while Oklahoma executed smart possessions and controlled the game’s flow.

The hosts successfully contained Haliburton, who only found his rhythm late in the game, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an outstanding all-around performance—both orchestrating plays and scoring when needed. The Canadian also became just the 12th player in NBA history to score 3,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.

At times, Indiana looked quite helpless, like a team that had given up by halftime and was simply waiting for the final buzzer. The game developed in such a way that Indiana's defeat seemed inevitable from the beginning. Oklahoma clearly wanted to strike back and prove why many consider them the favorite to win the championship ring. The series now shifts to Indianapolis, with Game 3 scheduled for the night between Wednesday and Thursday at 3:30 AM.

In the opening minutes, both teams struggled to find their rhythm, despite Pascal Siakam hitting a three for Indiana and Lu Dort responding for Oklahoma. There were rushed shots, passing mistakes, but also a very high level of intensity. Soon, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Andrew Nembhard emerged as the main offensive threats for their teams. Both sides took plenty of shots from beyond the arc, but with little success, so every point was hard-earned. The Pacers fired off 14 threes in the first quarter, which seemed to limit their offensive variety. Oklahoma capitalized through the sharp play of Chet Holmgren, ending the first quarter with a six-point lead.

Indiana opted for a different tactic to start the third quarter, feeding the ball to Myles Turner in the post, who managed to score a few baskets. Still, Oklahoma stuck to their game and maintained a commanding lead. The Pacers played somewhat more organized basketball, prompting a timeout from Daigneault when Aaron Nesmith’s three-pointer cut the lead to 14. Indiana threatened briefly—or rather, played less poorly than in the first half—but Shai had an answer for every attempt at a comeback. Nesmith was the only consistent contributor for Indiana, knocking down shots from distance, but it wasn’t enough to threaten the Thunder’s lead.

With a 19-point lead entering the final period, the outcome was essentially decided. Oklahoma didn’t rush and played smart in the closing quarter, comfortably closing out the game. The top scorer was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 34 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.

NBA, Playoffs, Final

Thunder - Pacers 123 - 107 (1-1 in series)