Pacers’ Unstoppable Winning Streak Continues: They Just Won’t Quit!

Hello, this is Dan Gartland. I’m at a loss whether to be astounded or not surprised at all that Tyrese Haliburton has delivered another game-winning shot.

Highlights in today’s SI:AM: 
Further Haliburton magic
Rodgers makes his move to Pittsburgh
Selections for MLB All-Stars

Unstoppable Once More

The Indiana Pacers continue to defy expectations.

Defying the odds has become a trademark for the Pacers in these playoffs, and they showcased this yet again during Game 1 of the NBA Finals last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With just 2:52 remaining, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander increased OKC’s lead to 108–99 by sinking two free throws. Historically, no team since 1971, among the 182 who were down by at least nine points in the final three minutes of a Finals game, had ever overturned such a deficit, ESPN reported. However, the Pacers have consistently demonstrated they are not a typical team.

From that moment, everything swung in favor of Indiana. They tightened their defense, dominated the rebounds, and made crucial shots, setting the stage for one last dramatic play. Naturally, they turned to Tyrese Haliburton for the final shot.

Haliburton’s knack for clutch performances has been unprecedented. He previously nailed a decisive shot in Game 5 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, another in Game 2 of the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even a game-tying basket in Game 1 of the conference finals against the New York Knicks. So, when he took aim from 21 feet in the final seconds of Thursday’s game, it seemed almost predestined that he would score.

https://x.com/espn/status/1930824185678352741

In this postseason alone, Haliburton has made four critical shots in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter or in overtime. This is more than any other player on record, since the NBA started detailed play-by-play tracking in the 1996–97 season.

His ability to perform under pressure is a big reason why the Pacers have managed to erase a 15-point deficit five times this postseason, a record unmatched in the play-by-play era. Remarkably, Indiana holds a 5–3 record this postseason when trailing by at least 15 points.

Although Haliburton wasn’t the top scorer in Game 1, netting 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and the Pacers were not at their offensive best, they managed to clinch a win. They committed 25 turnovers, a stark contrast to the Thunder’s seven. No team in NBA history had previously won a playoff game with such a skewed turnover margin.

The Pacers’ victory was aided by their post-halftime composure, limiting themselves to only five turnovers in the second half, and by the Thunder’s failure to capitalize fully on Indiana’s earlier mistakes, scoring just 11 points off turnovers. Indiana also out-rebounded the Thunder significantly, 56–39, effectively neutralizing the impact of their turnovers by dominating the boards.

Most crucially, the Pacers showed their defensive prowess. Gilgeous-Alexander had a standout performance for the Thunder, scoring 38 points, but Indiana managed to limit the scoring of OKC’s other key players—Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren—who combined for only 23 points. Haliburton’s opportunity for the game-winner was set up by critical defensive plays against SGA in the closing moments. First, Pascal Siakam blocked SGA’s attempt at the rim, and then Andrew Nembhard forced him into a difficult 15-foot fadeaway shot that missed, just before Haliburton’s game-winning play.

Despite the Pacers being underdogs against a historically strong Thunder team, and with OKC still favored even after dropping Game 1, Indiana’s playoff performance has shown that dismissing them is unwise.

Sports Illustrated Highlights

• Chris Mannix was present in Oklahoma City, witnessing Tyrese Haliburton enhance his remarkable postseason reputation with another memorable shot. 
• With Aaron Rodgers officially signing with the Steelers, Conor Orr discusses how this move offers Rodgers a chance to reshape how he’s perceived in a traditionally no-nonsense team. 
• Our 32 teams in 32 days feature today is Gilberto Manzano’s exploration of how Cam Ward could breathe new life into the Titans. 
• As MLB All-Star voting kicks off, our experts share their picks for the roster. 
• Today in Indianapolis, Michigan is set for a crucial meeting with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. Pat Forde delves into the implications and the future of NCAA enforcement. 
• I’m particularly fond of this gallery from SI featuring the finest photographs from past NBA Finals. 
• Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is out for all of minicamp due to a shoulder injury.

Top Five Highlights

… moments I witnessed last night:

5. The hilarious mishap of that botched field goal in the CFL. 
4. Bennedict Mathurin’s powerful block on Jalen Williams. 
3. Andrew Nembhard’s critical step-back three-pointer in the final minutes of Game 1. 
2. The baffling conclusion to the Rays–Rangers game, with Tampa Bay clinching the win following a defensive blunder that allowed two runs on a straightforward ground ball to second. 
1. This assortment of calls capturing Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winner—my favorite being the Icelandic announcer who echoed Mike Breen’s iconic “Bang!” or the utterly disheartened Thunder home radio broadcast.