The Indiana Pacers trailed by 15 factors within the fourth quarter and by 9 factors within the last three minutes. That is no obstacle for the Japanese Convention champions throughout these playoffs.
The Pacers by no means faltered in opposition to the relentless Oklahoma City Thunder, erasing a nine-point deficit within the last 2:52 of the sport. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard hit three-pointers, Pascal Siakam blocked a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander layup and hit a jumper of his personal earlier than Tyrese Haliburton delivered a game-winner with 0.3 seconds left to offer the Pacers a surprising 111-110 victory.
To place in perspective how inconceivable this win was, Haliburton’s basket gave the Pacers their first lead of the sport. The Thunder led by seven factors after 2 1/2 minutes, led by 12 at halftime and by 15 with 9:42 to go.
However the Pacers have been very arduous to place away this postseason. Haliburton has hit last-second game-winning pictures in all 4 rounds of the playoffs after his Recreation 1 heroics.
The Pacers defied expectations in quite a lot of methods Thursday evening. Obi Toppin got here off the bench to attain 17 factors whereas sinking 5 three-pointers. Indiana is not generally known as a rebounding staff, however it destroyed Oklahoma Metropolis on the boards, 56-39. The Pacers had as many turnovers as assists (24) and the Thunder turned the ball over solely six instances, but Indiana gained.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 factors on 14-for-30 taking pictures, however he did not get sufficient assist from his star teammates. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren mixed to shoot 8-for-28. Within the last 5 minutes of the sport, SGA was the one Thunder participant to attain.
The OKC crowd and the OKC Thunder each left the sector surprised after the Pacers stole one other playoff recreation they most likely ought to have misplaced. They’ve discovered what so many groups have already got this postseason: Do not ever depend the Pacers out.
