Pacers reach NBA Finals after 25 years, beating Knicks! OKC Thunder take Game 1 on June 2, 2025. Haliburton, Turner, Siakam star. Full recap & analysis.
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
Pacers Nation, what a rollercoaster! One moment we're popping champagne, celebrating our first trip to the NBA Finals in a quarter-century after conquering the Knicks, and the next, we're reminded just how tough this final mountain will be as the Oklahoma City Thunder took Game 1. It's a mix of euphoria and a quick reality check, but the journey isn't over yet!
It is really a special thing that happened 25 years ago, I wasn't even six months old... There's a lot of fans who have never seen success from this organization, especially people around my age. They weren't alive for it. So it's really special what we're doing, and we're just trying to keep making this a special place, a place where people want to come.
Let's rewind to the absolute bedlam of clinching the Eastern Conference Finals! The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in a hard-fought Game 6, sealing the series 4-2. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric as Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Pascal Siakam delivered stellar performances, leading the charge. Coach Rick Carlisle praised the team's resilience. This wasn't just a series win; it was history, ending a 25-year wait to return to the NBA's biggest stage. The ghosts of Reggie Miller's era are smiling down on this squad!
The celebration was sweet, but the challenge ahead is immense. The NBA Finals kicked off against a formidable Oklahoma City Thunder team, and unfortunately, Game 1 didn't go our way. Despite a second-half surge in three-point shooting, the Pacers found themselves trailing by 10 late, ultimately falling to OKC. Tyrese Haliburton put up 16 points and showed his playmaking prowess, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a force, dropping 33 points and making it clear why the Thunder are here. They established themselves as the stronger team early, and now it's on us to respond.
It's crucial to remember how we got here. As Scott Van Pelt highlighted on SportsCenter, this Pacers team's journey has been nothing short of cinematic. Starting the season 10-15, nobody – and I mean nobody outside our die-hard fanbase – had us pegged for the Finals. Tyrese Haliburton perfectly captured the sentiment of what this means for a generation of fans. This team has grit, heart, and a belief that's carried them through incredible odds. This Finals appearance isn't just a fluke; it's earned, and it marks the franchise's first shot at an NBA championship.
So, one game down in the Finals, and it's a setback, but this Pacers team has shown us time and again they can bounce back. The series now shifts focus to Game 2 on Thursday, June 5th in Oklahoma City. It's time to regroup, adjust, and show the Thunder the fight that got us here. This is our first NBA Finals in 25 years, and we're aiming to make it a memorable one by capturing that elusive first NBA championship. Let's go Pacers!
