
OKLAHOMA CITY — The NBA Finals appeared over less than two quarters after it started Thursday night when the Thunder, it appeared, had solved a previously uncrackable code. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. For six previous weeks and three rounds of the NBA playoffs, their opponent, the Indiana Pacers, had played fast while rarely turning the ball over, a potent combination that fueled the franchise’s first Finals appearance in a quarter-century.
Main Idea: Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to another shocking playoff comeback, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder despite a sloppy start and a big deficit.
Key Points:
Indiana’s sloppy start shows how high-pressure games can turn into costly mistakes for teams and fans.
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers’ comeback can lift morale and keep the Finals competitive, which helps sustain interest for viewers and local businesses.
Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.
The team is the article’s primary subject and the comeback narrative centers on its play.
The opposing team in the Finals game and a central focus of the article.
Pacers star central to the comeback, the game-winning shot, and the article’s main focus.
Pacers coach whose postgame comments and leadership are prominently featured.
Thunder star and NBA Most Valuable Player whose performance is a major part of the game analysis.
Thunder player whose key steal and dunk are part of the late-game turning point.
Thunder defender highlighted for his role in limiting Haliburton.
Pacers center quoted on the team’s mindset and comeback identity.
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Sign in to commentPacers co-star mentioned as part of the scoring comparison and team context.
Mentioned as one of the previous playoff opponents the Pacers overcame.
Mentioned as one of the previous playoff opponents the Pacers overcame.
Mentioned as one of the previous playoff opponents the Pacers overcame.