'Resilient': Haliburton's late shot sinks OKC in G1

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Each Indiana Pacers comeback throughout this postseason has followed the same formula: A late, double-digit comeback punctuated by a clutch shot from Tyrese Haliburton that leaves a stunned opponent in its aftermath.

The latest addition to Indiana's resume as the comeback kids of these NBA playoffs occurred on Thursday night, when the Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 111-110 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals after Haliburton scored the game-winner with 0.3 seconds remaining.

Haliburton's shot is the latest game winner in an NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan did it in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN Research.

"As a group, we never think the game is over, ever," Haliburton said. "Honestly speaking, ever."

The Pacers trailed by 15-points in the fourth quarter and rallied back to win, the fifth time this postseason they have overcome a 15-point deficit, the most by any team in a single postseason since 1998.

The Pacers' first lead of the game with 0.3 seconds remaining was the latest into any Finals game over the past 50 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

And Haliburton was at the center of it once again, hitting his fourth game-winning or game-tying shot in the final five seconds of a game this postseason.

"I don't know what you say about it, but I know that this group is a resilient group," Haliburton said. "And we don't give up until it's 0.0 on the clock."

Indiana won despite committing 24 turnovers, their most in a game this postseason. They gave up 38 points to Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and allowed a raucous road crowd to work itself into a frenzy for most of the game, an environment Haliburton acknowledged led to some first half "jitters" which he said led to some of the turnovers.

In the first half alone, Indiana turned the ball over 20 times, the most by any team in a half in the NBA Finals in the past 35 years.

"If you look at all the numbers, it's not the recipe to win," Haliburton said. "We can't turn the ball over that much. We have to do a better job of being in gaps, rebounding, all over the floor.

"But come May and June, it doesn't matter how you get them, just get them."

The Pacers had six players finish with double figures. Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard finished with 14 points. Obi Toppin had 17 points and hit five 3s off the bench. Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 19 points.

Yet, Indiana still trailed by 15 points with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, matching the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a Finals game since the Dallas Mavericks did it in Game 2 against the Miami Heat in 2011. Rick Carlisle was the head coach of both of those teams.

"We just said, 'let's just keep chipping away at the rock'," Carlisle said Thursday night. "We had a lot of experience in these kinds of games, and our guys have a real good feel for what it's all about, giving ourselves a chance. We got fortunate but made plays."

The Pacers continued to cut into the Thunder advantage with some clutch 3-pointers from Myles Turner, Nembhard and Toppin, setting up a one-point game during a replay review with 22.1 seconds remaining.

During the stoppage in play, Carlisle instructed his team that the Pacers weren't going to call timeout and allow the Thunder to set their defense if they got the ball back after a defensive stop. Nembhard's defense helped lead to a missed Gilgeous-Alexander jumper, and, after a rebound by Aaron Nesmith, the Pacers knew to get the ball in Haliburton's hands.

"I swear as soon as he jumped up to shoot, I was like, oh, that's good," Nesmith said. "Every time it's in his hands in those situations, I just think it's good."

This marked the fourth time the Pacers have pulled off an improbable comeback during this playoff run.

In Game 5 of the first round, they trailed the Milwaukee Bucks 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime and won the game, 119-118. In Game 2 of the second round, the Pacers were down 119-112 with 48 seconds left against the Cleveland Cavaliers but won the game 120-119. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they trailed the Knicks 121-112 with 51.1 seconds remaining in regulation before winning 138-135 in overtime.

And now after Thursday's rally, the Pacers have a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals, their first lead in a Finals in franchise history. Game 2 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.

"It is a 48-minute game," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "[The Pacers] teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league, the hard way."