The Indiana Pacers secured a 1-0 series lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder to continue their impressive playoff run.
Now opening the NBA Finals with an advantage, the Indiana Pacers have yet to face a series deficit in the playoffs, leading from start to finish against the Bucks, Cavaliers and Knicks.
Game 1 of the Finals was another improbable victory for the comeback Pacers, who were behind the whole opener, before Tyrese Haliburton’s late winner.
The Pacers won 111-110 with Haliburton scoring a late two-pointer with seconds remaining.
Haliburton was one of six Pacers players to score double-figures, proving the team’s strength in depth.
One of the Pacers’ heroes in Game 1 was Obi Toppin, who scored 17 points including a flurry of threes in the fourth quarter,
Toppin was 6-9 from the field that included 5-8 from three, and his late scoring helped the Pacers to haul in the Thunder’s double-digit advantage.
Speaking after the game, teammate Myles Turner had huge praise for Toppin’s unshakable composure.
Turner told the media: “Man, just his confidence never shook.
“He started the game with two or three turnovers and what not and he was able to make an impact, hit a couple threes right after that. Defensively was able to move his feet and get out and run.
“He’s someone that’s very important to our system. I think it was a huge confidence boost for him, especially Game 1.”
Turner admitted that the confidence the Pacers players have can be attributed to head coach Rick Carlisle.
“A lot of it does come from Rick. He instills it in us. He’s not like a rah-rah guy but his speeches, his preparation gets us in tune.
“I think I like his overall mentality when it comes to getting us prepared for moments like such, and you know, again, that’s what this time of the year is about, someone who has actually been there before, six times to be exact.”
Tyrese Haliburton scored 14 points in the win, along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists. All that will be remembered though was his dramatic late two-pointer.
Turner offered his praise for Haliburton, who has made a habit of scoring dramatic clutch shots during the regular season and the playoffs.
“Ultimate, ultimate confidence in himself. Some players will say they have it but there’s other players that show it, and he’s going to let you know about it, too.
“That’s one of the things I respect about him. He’s a baller and a hooper and really just a gamer.
“When it come to the moments, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn’t shy away from the moment and very important this time of the year to have a go-to guy.
“He just keeps finding a way and we keep putting the ball in the right positions and the rest is history.”
