Someone must start talking seriously about what these are doing Pacers In the playoffs. They are an incredible team. They never give up. They already did it against the Knicks and this morning against the Thunder, they have done it again. More than a year ago that no team of the east managed to beat OKC at home. Precisely, the last team to achieve this was the set of Indianapolis. Tonight and thanks to a Haliburton basket to 0.3 tenths for the endthe Pacers have conquered the Paycom Center to put the 1-0 in the NBA finals (110-111). It was the only advantage that the Pacers achieved throughout the game.
Initial domain of the Thunder
The game started with the Thunder taking the initiative. With a Unstoppable shai And a defensive support from Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City escaped with an advantage that reached 15 points in the last quarter. In the first quarter, the Thunder dominated 28-17, and then stretched their advantage at 50-37 in the second. Despite the attempts of the Pacers for approaching, the defense of the Thunder, combined with the offensive production of Shai and Jalen Williams (17 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists)they kept Oklahoma in front.
The Pacers came to rest with 19 ball losses and a 12-point disadvantage (57-45), but their indomitable spirit did not fall apart. The defense of Myles Turner (15 points, 9 rebounds) and the quality of Pascal Miss (19 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists) were key to not losing contact with the score.
The resistance of the Pacers
In the resumption, Oklahoma expanded its advantage to 67-55, but Indian Haliburton (14 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds) and Andrew Nembhard (14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists). Although the Thunder remained firm with the return of Shai and Dort (who added consecutive triples to expand the difference), the Pacers did what they know best: stay alive, resisting in each play.
In the last quarter, the Thunder put the scoreboard 94-79 with a partial 6-0, But the Pacers, as usual, returned to give signs of life. A 2-12 partial, with Toppin and Turner triples, cut the difference to 98-94. Although Shai and Jalen Williams (6 consecutive points) seemed to close the game with a 106-98 in the absence of 3:07. However, these Pacers had already proven to be a team that believes until the end.
Back 'Clutch Haliburton'
With 10 seconds to play and the Thunder still in front of 110-108, the Pacers executed a master play in the 'Clutch Time'. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander failed a 'Fadeaway' defended by Nembhard, and Haliburton took advantage of the rebound to make the final play. 0.3 seconds from the end, Haliburton received the ball, was easily fought from Cason Wallace and scored a winning basket that left the entire PayCom Center in absolute silence. The Pacers imposed 110-111 and advanced in the finals with an epic victory.
It is the fifth game that the Pacers manage to overcome in these playoffs with a disadvantage of 15 points or more. Since 1998 something similar was seen. In fact, this comeback should not surprise anyone. Indiana has proven to be a team that, when everything seems lost, knows how to get up. In this party, Tyrese Haliburton was the herobut victory was the result of collective effort of a team that does not give up. In addition to Haliburton, names such as Turner, Siakam, Toppin, Nembhard and Nesmith (which also had a crucial triple in the final stretch) were fundamental for the victory.
