The Oklahoma City Thunder faced a tough loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, falling to the Indiana Pacers by just one point, 111-110, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning jumper with only 0.3 seconds left. The defeat was particularly hard to swallow for a young Thunder team, especially considering how similar it was to a loss they suffered earlier in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. Despite leading by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Thunder once again found themselves on the losing end due to a late-game collapse and a clutch shot from their opponents.
A Familiar Story for the Thunder
This loss in the NBA Finals mirrored the Thunder’s Game 1 loss in the second round against the Denver Nuggets. In that game, Oklahoma City led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, only to lose because of a last-second Aaron Gordon three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left. Both losses saw the Thunder outplayed for much of the game, only to falter in the final moments due to subpar late-game execution and game-winning shots from their opponents.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault reflected on the experience, noting how the playoffs test a team’s resilience. “The playoffs take you to the limit,” Daigneault said. “They put your back against the wall, in games, in series. If you make it this far, you have to endure to do that. It gives you rich experiences that you can draw on.”
Forward Jalen Williams expressed a more straightforward sentiment, saying, “It sucks, but we have been here before.” He added, “Regardless, if it’s the finals or Round 1, Round 2, you still have to win four games. We’ll take that and be ready for Game 2.”
Oklahoma City’s Strengths Despite the Loss
Although the Thunder suffered a crushing defeat, they did many things right, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma City forced the Pacers into 25 turnovers and did an excellent job limiting Tyrese Haliburton, who had been quiet before hitting his game-winning shot, finishing with just 14 points and six assists. The Thunder’s defense was impressive, especially considering they weren’t playing their best offensively. Oklahoma City shot only 39.8% from the field and managed just 13 assists on 27 made field goals. Despite these struggles, the Thunder led the game until the final 0.3 seconds.
Coach Daigneault acknowledged that despite the offensive issues, the Thunder were still in control for most of the game. “We’ll have to play better, especially when desperate,” he said, referring to the need for improvement as they look ahead to Game 2. One thing that the Thunder have proven during the playoffs is their resilience—they haven’t lost back-to-back games in the postseason. Following their tough loss to Denver in Game 1, Oklahoma City came back strong with a dominant 43-point victory in Game 2 of that series.
Adjustments for Game 2
As the Thunder look to bounce back in Game 2, they’ll likely make some adjustments to improve their chances. One area they may focus on is returning to their usual starting lineup. In Game 1, Oklahoma City made a preemptive lineup change, swapping starting center Isaiah Hartenstein for guard Cason Wallace to match up better against the smaller, quicker Pacers. This move led to reduced roles for Hartenstein and rookie big man Chet Holmgren, with both players seeing fewer minutes than they had in previous games.
“We’ve been pretty fluid with the lineup throughout the course of the season,” Daigneault explained. “Cason started 40-something games. We changed the lineup a million times. We haven’t in the playoffs. That’s why we do it during the regular season, so that it’s not earth-shattering when we do it.”
The Thunder’s new lineup only outscored the Pacers by two points in the 16 minutes they played together. Additionally, Hartenstein and Holmgren didn’t share the floor for a single possession in Game 1. Oklahoma City will have to evaluate whether the lineup change was effective or if they need to return to their more traditional rotations for the next game.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
Despite the frustration of their last-second loss, the Thunder seemed composed and focused on what’s ahead. They didn’t appear too shaken by the defeat, and star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander echoed similar sentiments to what he said after their loss to Denver. The Thunder know that, despite the heartbreaking nature of the loss, they still have to win four games to claim the series. They will surely come out with renewed determination for Game 2 and look to correct their mistakes from Game 1.
The Thunder have proven throughout the playoffs that they can bounce back from tough losses. Now, they’ll look to do it again as they face a must-win situation in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
