2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 1-0)

[The Corey's]

Unbelievable ending, these Pacers are ridiculous. Can't believe they keep pulling off the same ****, Real Madrid levels of psychological edge here.

That being said, I'm going to double down on my prediction. I think this is the only game Pacers take in this series. I always thought they could only win by shooting a ridiculous percentage from 3 and I think this was is.

I think OKC is more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than Pacers are their 3PT shooting. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren probably won't disappear to the extent that they have.

Pacers might not win the series but they're not getting back door swept.

3 point shooting will come down but they also won't be -18 in turnovers again.

Also, what was the FT difference in the 4th quarter?

[durden_tyler]

the thunder led the whole thing for 47:59.7 seconds lmao they played great, just poor shooting and poor execution to finish it

they have proven they got in them to recover from these situations

let's see

Still the big favorites (-330) to win the title and really still no pressure on OKC i think (compared to say losing homecourt advantage after four games). Pacers did their job in the opening games this series (they should lose Game 2, now as 11.5 underdogs they'll be forgiven for a letdown effort and anyway, OKC will take a statement blowout win as a response to the Game 1 choke)

[doogie_hauser]

Its over

I just don’t personally understand this mentality.

It’s one game. It’s not super rare for the team who lost the first game to win the series. OKC did it against the Nuggets.

What do we gain by EVERYTHING being decided by the latest instance? If the Pacers lose next game, the same people saying it’s over now, will be shouting how the Thunder have dominated 99% of the minutes.

Why does the latest thing have the be the indicator of everything?

Yep way too soon.. if the Pacers win game 2 (unlikely odds wise as OKC had the best/most significant home court advantage all season including playoffs) than a reasonable chance the Pacers are in the box seat.

Lakers won game 1 of the 91 finals and then got smoked afterwards

The Pacers get a lot more street credit and legitimacy after this plucky win, but it's utter nonsense to say this series is over/a wash.

For instance I thought the Bucks were finished when The Suns went 2-0 up in the 2021 finals

[Bloodbather]

Unbelievable ending, these Pacers are ridiculous. Can't believe they keep pulling off the same ****, Real Madrid levels of psychological edge here.

That being said, I'm going to double down on my prediction. I think this is the only game Pacers take in this series. I always thought they could only win by shooting a ridiculous percentage from 3 and I think this was is.

I think OKC is more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than Pacers are their 3PT shooting. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren probably won't disappear to the extent that they have.

Pacers might not win the series but they're not getting back door swept.

3 point shooting will come down but they also won't be -18 in turnovers again.

Also, what was the FT difference in the 4th quarter?

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

[doogie_hauser]

Its over

I just don’t personally understand this mentality.

It’s one game. It’s not super rare for the team who lost the first game to win the series. OKC did it against the Nuggets.

What do we gain by EVERYTHING being decided by the latest instance? If the Pacers lose next game, the same people saying it’s over now, will be shouting how the Thunder have dominated 99% of the minutes.

Why does the latest thing have the be the indicator of everything?

Yep way too soon.. if the Pacers win game 2 (unlikely odds wise as OKC had the best/most significant home court advantage all season including playoffs) than a reasonable chance the Pacers are in the box seat.

Lakers won game 1 of the 91 finals and then got smoked afterwards

The Pacers get a lot more street credit and legitimacy after this plucky win, but it's utter nonsense to say this series is over/a wash.

For instance I thought the Bucks were finished when The Suns went 2-0 up in the 2021 finals

[The Corey's]

Unbelievable ending, these Pacers are ridiculous. Can't believe they keep pulling off the same ****, Real Madrid levels of psychological edge here.

That being said, I'm going to double down on my prediction. I think this is the only game Pacers take in this series. I always thought they could only win by shooting a ridiculous percentage from 3 and I think this was is.

I think OKC is more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than Pacers are their 3PT shooting. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren probably won't disappear to the extent that they have.

Pacers might not win the series but they're not getting back door swept.

3 point shooting will come down but they also won't be -18 in turnovers again.

Also, what was the FT difference in the 4th quarter?

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

Oh. So you're one of those people who think OKC is so far above the pacers that of course they're going to walk away with it.

That's unfortunate. I thought the pacers finally started getting their flowers.

[Bloodbather]

Reminds me of when the Sixers took game 1 against the Lakers in 2001.

I personally expect OKC to basically dominate the rest of the series.

I really doubt that. Not only Pacers took one game. It was an away game, a tone setter and they now have the moral ground. I'm not sure who will win, but it will be close for sure. Despite some great numbers, OKC's proving to be far from a juggernaut. Nothing wrong with that, but as others have said, they're not the 16-1 Lakers.

That was the exact same situation in 2001, though. It was the first game, in Los Angeles, and it was a clutch win by the Sixers. The feeling was that they stole one. They had the "moral ground" as much as the Pacers do now.

OKC might not be the 2001 Lakers, but they are closer to that than the average title winner.

[WestbrookGOATed]

Pacers might not win the series but they're not getting back door swept.

3 point shooting will come down but they also won't be -18 in turnovers again.

Also, what was the FT difference in the 4th quarter?

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

Oh. So you're one of those people who think OKC is so far above the pacers that of course they're going to walk away with it.

That's unfortunate. I thought the pacers finally started getting their flowers.

You don't get flowers after winning game 1. The series just started

[tonyreyes123]

OKC has never won anything I dont know why people here think they have some championship pedigree that’ll make them automatically bounce back

[Mi Scusi]

NBA needs to get rid of ESPN/ABC as the finals hosts. Bring back the finals logo, make it look special

[The Corey's]

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

Oh. So you're one of those people who think OKC is so far above the pacers that of course they're going to walk away with it.

That's unfortunate. I thought the pacers finally started getting their flowers.

You don't get flowers after winning game 1. The series just started

It's actually game 17 after a 82 game season.

Its his fault for thinking it was gonna be a cake walk series for OKC.

He already back tracked anyway. Said he was doubling down that OKC wins 4 games to 1 and then immediately said Indy can win another game if they shoot the way they did last night again.

Yes that's usually how it works. If you put the ball in the hole for more points you usually win.

[Bergmaniac]

Pacers' mental toughness is really something else, pretty much every other team would have folded after the turnover fest in the first half, but they hang around and once again show incredible poise, excellent defence and spectacular shotmaking in the clutch. This promises to be a really good series.

[3ddman23]

I said it at the beginning of the game. OKC coach making that lineup change for no reason would shake up how they play. Why do that out of no were in the NBA finals?

Why is he playing 11 guys in game 1 of the nba finals?

I still think OKC will pull this out, I'm not sure the way Indiana plays is a recipe for success (although it has gotten them this far). Is topping gonna give them another game like that? Will they continue to shoot hot from 3? Can OKC find some sort of offense to pair with there defense.

Obviously OKC has to win game 2 now. But I can easily see OKC winning one in Indiana. But they have to win game 2. If Indiana some how pulls out game 2 in OKC then this series is over.

[Jailblazers7]

Thunder really showed their youth in that one. Very disorganized offensively with J-Dub and Chet leading the way with some really ill-advised offensive possessions. I honestly thought it was smart of SGA to shoot so often because the rest of the team was struggling.

They might need to play Hartenstein over Chet because he gives them a second offense hub. Run some DHOs off Hartenstein to have at least a competent looking halfcourt offense.

Huge props to Indy for being so resilient and shooting the ball so well. Their 4th quarter shooting has been unbelievable in the playoffs - I keep waiting for them to revert to the mean but it just never happens.

[MyTake_1]

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

You keep saying that, but 19 were in the first half, and only 5 in the second.

Maybe that is more like what the rest of this series will look like.

[G R E Y]

Not sure if posted. Is Carlisle old English for dragon slayer?!

Read on Twitter

[Tnasty4l]

OKC fans keep thinking that the Pacers can't shoot like that all series long when they've been doing it all playoffs. Keep thinking that you can just turn it on when you want. Keep thinking that they'll turn the ball over like this again. Keep thinking like that and you'll be sent home with the quickness.

[Optms]

Reminds me of when the Sixers took game 1 against the Lakers in 2001.

I personally expect OKC to basically dominate the rest of the series.

I really doubt that. Not only Pacers took one game. It was an away game, a tone setter and they now have the moral ground. I'm not sure who will win, but it will be close for sure. Despite some great numbers, OKC's proving to be far from a juggernaut. Nothing wrong with that, but as others have said, they're not the 16-1 Lakers.

And if OKC loses game 2?

The back peddling from "greatest defenses of all time" and "Deepest team in history" is gonna be hilarious. No one is giving INDY credit. Still aren't.

[Froob]

okc can’t screw around. there’s just no guarantee you ever get back here. I know they are set up well but if you lose this series you might not ever win one. you’re always one bad break from losing before the finals.

I was incredibly thankful boston got the job done because real possibility we don’t win another.

[Los_29]

Unbelievable ending, these Pacers are ridiculous. Can't believe they keep pulling off the same ****, Real Madrid levels of psychological edge here.

That being said, I'm going to double down on my prediction. I think this is the only game Pacers take in this series. I always thought they could only win by shooting a ridiculous percentage from 3 and I think this was is.

I think OKC is more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than Pacers are their 3PT shooting. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren probably won't disappear to the extent that they have.

Pacers might not win the series but they're not getting back door swept.

3 point shooting will come down but they also won't be -18 in turnovers again.

Also, what was the FT difference in the 4th quarter?

As I said, I think OKC are more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than the Pacers are to replicate their 3PT shooting. That was an exceptionally bad offensive performance by OKC except Shai and Dort, also. It would've been a blowout with just an okay performance from Jalen and Chet.

They might take another one on the way with another great 3PT shooting display, but I don't see any more than that.

Didn’t the Pacers have like 24 turnovers? Pacers have had some insane shooting games in these playoffs. I don’t see how 46% is that much of an outlier when they are shooting like 40-41% from three in these playoffs.

24 turnovers is likely not going to be repeated in this series. Pacers were averaging around 12 in these playoffs.

I still like the Thunder but this was a game the Thunder should’ve won…and they didn’t. Pacers could play a lot better. Only 6 turnovers in the 2nd half compared to 18 in the first half.

Great game, should be an exciting series.