Player grades: Tyrese Haliburton stuns Thunder in 111-110 Game 1 loss to Pacers
OKLAHOMA CITY — Bringing the ball up, Tyrese Haliburton returned to his comfort spot. As the final seconds ticked away, Indiana's franchise player had the chance to deliver more late-game heroics on the road. He bumped Cason Wallace off him and drained a deep jumper.
Just like that, the home crowd was stunned. Only 0.3 seconds remained. The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a shocking 111-110 Game 1 loss to the Indiana Pacers. They're now at a disadvantage with an early 0-1 series deficit in the 2025 NBA Finals.
Advertisement
Talk about deja vu. But in the worst ways for the Thunder. To truly digest what happened, let's rewind to the start. You need to do that when you hold for the entire game, sans the final couple of seconds.
To start, everything went the Thunder's way. They scored the first seven points. The OKC crowd provided them with a jolt of energy. It looked eerily similar to what they usually do to run up the scoreboard on their opponent. Then the Pacers fought through it.
The Thunder held a 29-20 lead after the first quarter. They scored 28 points in the second frame to push their halftime advantage to 57-45. Not bad, but it felt like they left meat on the bone. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points at the break, but the rest of his squad struggled to show up. Perhaps from a case of the jitters.
The Thunder flirted with a near plus-20 shot-attempt advantage over the Pacers. That alone should've been enough to get them up by a larger amount. But Indiana hung around. That's what it's done all playoffs. After the break, it was much of the same.
Advertisement
Gilgeous-Alexander sliced through Indiana's defense, but the Pacers hit timely outside buckets to keep it within striking distance. Indiana scored 31 points in the third quarter as the Thunder's lead was trimmed to 85-76 to enter the fourth frame.
Uneasiness settled into Paycom Center. Everybody's anxiety grew with each missed shot. Jalen Williams had a bit of a burst to start the fourth quarter. After TJ McConnell's bad inbound pass resulted in a Williams' breakaway dunk, the Thunder had a 94-79 lead with a little over nine minutes left.
OK. Deep breath out. The Thunder finally had some space on the scoreboard. Alas, like The Terminator, the Pacers wouldn't give up. It didn't take long for them to cut it within a single-digit deficit. Big-time outside buckets by Myles Turner and Obi Toppin made things interesting.
After Gilgeous-Alexander made it a 108-99 lead with a little under three minutes left, an uneventful final moments should've been enough to secure a Game 1 win. Instead, the Pacers chipped away. Aaron Nesmith made a clutch 3-pointer. Andrew Nembhard soon followed with a nasty step-back 3-pointer after he shook Gilgeous-Alexander.
Advertisement
Suddenly, the Thunder only had a 108-105 lead with two minutes left. Uh oh. Gulp. You could hear everybody mutter under their breath about what they witnessed. After all, it wasn't even a month ago when the Denver Nuggets committed highway robbery with a Game 1 stunner.
After Nembhard missed an outside attempt, Pascal Siakam's second-chance layup cut the Thunder's lead to 110-109 with 48 seconds left. The Thunder had a few cracks to seal the deal, but a couple of misses left the door wide open for Haliburton to have another signature Game 1 moment. The All-Star took advantage with the drilled game-winner. In the end, Indiana finished the final two minutes on a 12-2 run. It scored 35 points in the final frame.
The Thunder shot 40% from the field and went 11-of-30 (36.7%) from 3. They shot 21-of-24 on free throws. They had 13 assists on 39 baskets. Four Thunder players scored double-digit points.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting. Williams had 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Lu Dort scored 15 points on five outside makes. Alex Caruso had 11 points and six rebounds.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, the Pacers shot 48% from the field and went 18-of-39 (46.2%) from 3. They shot 15-of-21 on free throws. They had 24 assists on 39 baskets. Six Pacers players scored double-digit points.
Haliburton finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Siakam had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Toppin scored 17 points. Turner finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Nembhard tallied 14 points and six assists. Nesmith had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Fans filed out of the arena in shock. Nobody said a word. The only chants you could hear came from the Pacers' traveling party that the franchise brought along. After being considered the heavy favorite, the Thunder have dug themselves into quite a hole.
Let's look at Thunder player grades:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-minus
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the third quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Doubled by Nembhard and Nesmith, Gilgeous-Alexander could only muster up a turnaround jumper that clanked off the rim in the final seconds. What could've been a signature moment in his NBA Finals debut instead served as a sparkplug for Haliburton's moment.
Advertisement
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting, five rebounds and three assists. He shot 3-of-6 from 3 and went 7-of-8 on free throws. He also had three steals.
Too many moments in the final minutes when the Thunder couldn't shut the door on the Pacers. Gilgeous-Alexander had his miscues despite being the best player on the floor. He had a handful of chances to seal the result but missed on bunnies.
Credit Gilgeous-Alexander for emptying the tank. He left it all on the floor as soon as he realized nobody else besides Dort would join him. But the usually efficient scorer didn't have the butterfly finishes through traffic or go to the free-throw line at the clip we've grown accustomed to. The mid-range jumper wasn't automatic.
Despite that, Gilgeous-Alexander did enough to get a Game 1 win. He dragged his team to a double-digit lead for most of the game, but couldn't put on his Superman cape in the final moments and deliver an important win. The Thunder have been at this spot before and usually respond well. Let's see how they look in Game 2.
Jalen Williams: C
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Being the first to the ball after a bad inbound pass, Williams ran down the court and had the easy jam. After a forgettable three quarters, a loud start to the fourth frame looked like the All-Star was going to be on the verge of a classic late-game takeover.
Advertisement
Instead, Williams' mistakes couldn't be erased. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting, six assists and four rebounds. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-4 on free throws. He also had a steal.
The Thunder need more from Williams. We know this by now. Gilgeous-Alexander will get his numbers, but how the rest of the roster does will decide a lot about this series. When the 24-year-old gets in a groove, it's basketball poetry. When his jumper is off, like it was tonight, annoyance boils over into frustration.
You like the shot process by Williams. He took jumpers that he usually makes. He barreled to the rim on drives he usually finishes. But Indiana did enough to disrupt his rhythm and force close misses. He almost got away with it with a strong start to the fourth quarter, but OKC's collapse brought his inconsistency issues to the forefront.
Chet Holmgren: D
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second quarter in game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Everything said about Williams can be copied and pasted here for Holmgren. Except you could do that for a couple more times to drive home the point in a theatrical way. The Thunder went with a single center to start. Isaiah Hartenstein was benched in favor of Cason Wallace. By the end, they abandoned that, too. Hard to blame them, either.
Advertisement
Holmgren finished with six points on 2-of-9 shooting and six rebounds. He shot 0-of-1 from 3 and went 2-of-2 on free throws. He also had a block.
As the game progresses, you see less of Holmgren. He only logged 24 minutes and played just four minutes of a close fourth quarter. The Pacers' outside shooting pulled the seven-footer outside of the paint. The Thunder had to concede and play mostly small-ball in the final moments.
Questions arose about Hartenstein's playability against the Pacers. Very different circumstances, but he struggled against mostly the same roster on the New York Knicks. Funny how sports can turn out, as he was more effective than Holmgren in Game 1.
The Thunder will need Holmgren to play better. They were killed on the boards by a 56-39 disadvantage. That allowed the Pacers to overcome the shot-attempt difference slowly. The 23-year-old has to play better on both ends or risk being unplayable.
Lu Dort: A
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Besides Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort was the other positive for the Thunder. His Game 1 will go in vain. The same way Caruso's Game 1 against the Nuggets did with 20 points. A day after he penned a heartfelt Player Tribune letter to the OKC fanbase, he did enough to lock a win.
Advertisement
Dort finished with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, four rebounds and an assist. He shot 5-of-9 from 3. He also had four steals and two blocks.
As the Thunder's offense dried up, Dort's outside shot gave them much-needed buckets. The defense was special as well. He faded Haliburton into the background for most of the night. Dives for loose balls energized the crowd as they sang his first name.
If the final result reversed, a lot of the postgame talk would be about how he added to his Big Game Lu mythos. Instead, it'll get forever lost as Haliburton's clutch gene was the headliner.
Alex Caruso: B
Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) drives to the basket past Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Thunder heavily relied on their three-headed defensive POA monster. Dort, Caruso and Cason Wallace usurped Holmgren and Hartenstein in the hierarchy. It wasn't the preferred result, but the plan worked. Nobody from Indiana exploded for a monster night. Instead, everybody chipped in.
Advertisement
Caruso finished with 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, six rebounds and two assists. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-5 on free throws. He had three steals and two blocks.
The Thunder's league-best defense showed up through three quarters. They caused havoc. The Pacers were so deep in their own minds because of their ability to create turnovers that they always checked over the shoulder before an elementary entry pass. Then the fourth frame happened.
The Thunder have to shake off the shock. They'll have three days to marinate on this stunner before Game 2. This is what the NBA Finals are about. As the only NBA champion on the roster, Caruso offered some much-needed perspective that his teammates need to hear, which simultaneously probably angered OKC fans.
Highlights:
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder stunned in 111-110 Game 1 loss to Pacers
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a minute ago
- USA Today
Jalen Williams on T.J. McConnell's 2025 NBA Finals against Thunder: 'So annoying'
It's easy to laugh back at now, but T.J. McConnell had Oklahoma City Thunder shaking in their boots whenever they needed an inbound pass or when he dribbled in circles to his favorite short-range jumpers. A month after they beat the Indiana Pacers in a 2025 NBA Finals Game 7, Williams discussed what it was like to deal with McConnell's mini-takeovers. The underdog squad was able to push the heavy title favorite to the distance because role players like him had randomly explosive performances. McConnell averaged 12 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds in the NBA Finals. He also had an eye-popping 2.1 steals. That was boosted with five steals in Game 3 and four steals in Game 6. Both were Indiana wins. Most of those steals came on simple inbound passes where the Thunder panicked and couldn't execute elementary basketball moves. That's how the Pacers finished a win shy of their first NBA championship. They had a deep squad where nobody was a bona fide 25-plus point scorer. It was truly a group effort where somebody like Pascal Siakam or Obi Toppin could go off. Williams talked about McConnell's surprise series against the Thunder. He joined PJ Washington in the club of role players who stepped up against them in a playoff series. The 24-year-old reflected on their championship run in his "The Young Man and The Three" podcast episode. 'Dude's so annoying,' Williams joked. 'Special player, though. What's cool is, looking back at it, and I was even able to share a couple of moments with him during the game, he was really cool to me when I got drafted.' When Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles early on in the Thunder's Game 7 win, McConnell stepped up as their top scorer. Sadly, that's not the ideal situation you want to find yourself in at that stage. While the 33-year-old was a huge plus for the Pacers, relying on him to create buckets isn't a sustainable full-game plan. 'We were thinking the same thing,' Williams said. 'He ran off a run, and we were going into the huddle like, 'Bro.' But yeah, he was annoying during that series, and annoying is obviously a good thing, just on the other end of that.' Easy to look back at McConnell's superb series now, but at the time, each turnover he caused had Thunder fans pulling hair out of their head. That's what the playoffs are about. Sometimes, a random role player goes off and ends your season. For the Thunder, they were able to avoid being on the wrong side of an all-time upset.
Newsweek
2 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Pacers' TJ McConnell Sounds Off About Kyrie Irving
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Indiana Pacers and point guard T.J. McConnell are fresh off of a run to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, they came up just short against the Oklahoma City Thunder and lost Game 7 of the series following star point guard Tyrese Haliburton's torn Achilles injury. During the Finals, McConnell became a household name. Everyone in Indiana had already come to love him, but he hadn't been a name talked about much around the league. With fans getting to see him on the biggest stage in basketball, McConnell stepped up and played at an incredibly high level. T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo byThroughout the course of the series against the Thunder, McConnell averaged 12 points per game off of the bench to go along with 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. Read more: Lakers Linked to Potential Trade for 2-Time All-Star Guard Now that his name has grown, McConnell is being much more active in the media. Recently, he spoke out with a strong opinion about who the toughest player in the NBA is to guard. Of course, McConnell is known as a tenacious defender. He wreaks havoc on many opposing guards. However, there is one guard that he has difficulty with in particular. That guard is none other than Dallas Mavericks' superstar point guard Kyrie Irving. During an appearance on the "Christian Kuntz Podcast," McConnell spoke out with a strong message about Irving. "Who's the hardest guy I've had to guard? Kyrie Irving," McConnell said. "The ball's on a string. You're on an island, and you just don't know what he's gonna do. You could force him one way, but he still ends up getting the way you don't want him. His handle is impeccable. It's impeccable. He's got the greatest handle I've seen. He could really shoot it like, he's fast, it's just, it's a tough place to be mentally when you're when you're guarding Kyrie." Read more: Warriors' Stephen Curry Doesn't Hold Back About Ja Morant Irving is currently working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered. There is no concrete timetable for his return to the court, but the Mavericks are hoping that he'll be playing during the 2025-26 season. All of that being said, McConnell showering Irving with this kind of praise is telling. Irving has been a lethal scorer and ball-handler his entire career. McConnell and the Pacers will have their work cut out for them during the 2025-26 campaign. Without Haliburton on the court, they'll have a steep hill to climb to remain as one of the top teams in the NBA. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Associated Press
2 minutes ago
- Associated Press
NFL Players Association executive JC Tretter is resigning amid union overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) — NFLPA chief strategy officer JC Tretter is resigning from his position, three days after Lloyd Howell stepped down as executive director of the players' union. Tretter told CBS Sports on Sunday that he doesn't want to be considered for the NFLPA's interim executive director position and denied he played any role in undermining Howell's position. 'Over the last couple days, it has gotten very, very hard for my family. And that's something I can't deal with,' Tretter told CBS Sports on Sunday. 'So, the short bullet points are: I have no interest in being (executive director). I have no interest in being considered. I've let the executive committee know that. I'm also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don't have anything left to give the organization.' The 34-year-old Tretter, who played center for eight seasons with Green Bay and Cleveland through 2021, was the player president from 2020 to 2024. He served in his new role since October 2024. Howell resigned Thursday after two years because his leadership had become a distraction. Howell has come under scrutiny since ESPN reported he has maintained a part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that holds league approval to seek minority ownership in NFL franchises. That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep quiet an arbitrator's ruling about possible collusion by owners over quarterback salaries. The latest issue was an ESPN report Thursday that revealed two player representatives who voted for Howell were not aware that he was sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen. In 2023, a year after the NFLPA sued the owners for collusion, the NFL sued the union after Tretter suggested in an interview that running backs who were unhappy with their contracts could fake injuries, which would be a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. The grievance also was decided this year and was not shared publicly. Tretter told CBS Sports he didn't have access to the collusion grievance and wasn't involved in the confidentiality agreements. Tretter was the NFLPA's player president in 2023 when Howell was elected as the union's executive director following a vote that changed the union's constitution and made the search and election process more confidential. 'I'm not resigning because what I've been accused of is true,' Tretter said. 'I'm not resigning in disgrace. I'm resigning because this has gone too far for me and my family, and I've sucked it up for six weeks. And I felt like I've been kind of left in the wind taking shots for the best of the organization. ... And in the end, what's the organization done for me? Like, nothing.' ___ AP NFL:
