Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts a shot against Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)
Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers stunned the basketball world in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, overcoming a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and outlasting the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-110, on the road. Now, with the Pacers holding a 1-0 lead and home-court advantage in hand, NBA scouts and coaches say the series looks far more competitive than many anticipated.
Multiple league scouts, assistant coaches and video coordinators shared their insights with RG after Indiana’s dramatic comeback, highlighting key adjustments, tactical swings and lingering questions heading into Sunday’s pivotal Game 2.
Haliburton’s Poise and Second-Half Aggression Changed the Game
Haliburton’s floor leadership and shot-making were widely praised, particularly in the game’s biggest moments. It was a rough first half for the Pacers, but he was key in steadying them and finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, recording a double-double and delivering the shot of the night.
“He played with complete poise,” one Eastern Conference scout told RG. “Even when they were down double digits, you never saw him force it. He trusted the offense, he trusted his teammates, and when the time came, he made the biggest play of the night.”
Haliburton’s go-ahead jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining marked his fourth game-winning shot of the playoffs. Scouts also noted how Haliburton adjusted as the game progressed. He appeared to be feeling out the pace in the first half, which they viewed as expected in the opening game of a Finals series. But coming out of halftime, his mindset clearly shifted.
“That’s growth,” one Eastern Conference assistant coach added. “You don’t wait until the fourth quarter to flip a switch—he came out in the third quarter and changed the tone.”
“A sneaky part of this game—Indiana won the non-Haliburton minutes,” one Western Conference scout said. “When they went on that run with him off the floor, that flipped the whole energy of the game. OKC didn’t expect to lose those stretches.”
How Indiana Adapted to OKC’s Defensive Pressure
Indiana’s adjustments after Oklahoma City’s early switching and ball pressure gave them major problems and drew significant praise as well.
“OKC’s hands and activity were causing chaos—like 20 turnovers in a half is insane,” one Western Conference scout told RG.
“But Indiana didn’t panic. They deserve a ton of credit. They kept cutting, kept using pace and forced OKC to make tough decisions late.”
Several highlighted how Indiana specifically attacked Isaiah Hartenstein in space during the Pacers’ rally.
“They hunted Hartenstein every chance they got,” one Eastern Conference video coordinator said. “Pick-and-roll, transition, cuts—anytime he was in space, they went right at him.”
“That stretch when McConnell was flying around and Mathurin was slipping behind the defense—that changed the flow of the game,” one Western Conference assistant coach told RG. “OKC couldn’t cover both the ball and the back cuts.”
“TJ’s Nash dribble plays really confused them,” one Eastern Conference video coordinator added. “They want to tag from the low man there, but Indiana was clearing out help on purpose. That’s experience—they knew how OKC was trying to rotate.”
Oklahoma City’s Late-Game Execution Broke Down
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points, scouts pointed to the Thunder’s late-game execution and composure as concerns moving forward.
“They got tight,” one Western Conference scout told RG. “They stopped trusting their movement and spacing. The ball stuck with Shai too much late, and that played right into Indiana’s hands.”
Oklahoma City led for 47 minutes and 59.7 seconds of Game 1. But after building a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, they were outscored 12-2 in the final 2:38.
“That’s a young-team moment,” one Eastern Conference scout added. “They hadn’t been tested like that on this stage yet—Indiana made them crack.”
Rick Carlisle’s steady hand was viewed as a major factor in Indiana’s poise down the stretch.
“Carlisle kept them calm,” one Western Conference assistant coach said. “That’s a coach who’s been through this before. You could see it—Indiana never looked rushed or rattled, even when they were down double digits. That comes from the top.”
SGA’s Defensive Lapses Loomed Large
Some were particularly critical of Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive play in key moments.
“Shai’s effort was off late in that game,” one Eastern Conference video coordinator told RG. “You could see it—ball watching, late rotations, not tagging cutters. That Siakam offensive rebound was brutal, but it wasn’t the only play.”
Multiple switching breakdowns involving Gilgeous-Alexander also proved costly—an area viewed as a real concern heading into Game 2.
“Whether it was a pre-switch breakdown, poor footwork after a soft switch, or just being a step late on the rotation, Shai was rough,” one Western Conference assistant coach said. “Indiana exploited that repeatedly late. They knew they could get the matchup or window they wanted.”
“Shai gets too much credit defensively for what we’re seeing on tape,” one Western Conference scout added. “When you’re the low man, you have to make decisions fast, and you have to be a factor on the boards when you’re crossmatched especially. When you’re in a soft switch, you have to contain. He didn’t do either well enough—and that’s a big reason OKC couldn’t close this game.”
Scouts also pointed to Andrew Nembhard’s pivotal step-back three as another moment where Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive shortcomings were exposed.
“That was Shai’s time to step up—and Nembhard flat-out broke him down off the bounce,” one Western Conference scout told RG. “You can’t get put on skates like that in a one-possession game. That’s a moment where your star has to win the battle defensively.”
“Nembhard had no fear—and you could see Indiana fed off that,” one Eastern Conference scout added. “It was a turning-point shot, and that shot was right in Shai’s face.”
Siakam Remains the Matchup Oklahoma City Can’t Solve
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1, recording one of three Pacers’ double-doubles on the night. Scouts continued to highlight Siakam as perhaps the most challenging cover in the series—and a player whose versatility is driving Indiana’s ability to dictate matchups.
“Siakam is the one they can’t figure out,” one Western Conference scout told RG. “When OKC tried to go small, he could really punish them. It’s one thing to play small, but the Thunder have a lot of guys who are 6-5 or shorter on the perimeter. Even when they try to go big, he pulls them into space.”
“Indiana was doing little things to clear space for him,” one Eastern Conference scout added. “On that late Siakam cut, they used a corner empty to pull the low man out. OKC’s low-tag guys were a step behind plenty of times—Indiana attacked those gaps perfectly.”
Scouts pointed to Siakam’s late offensive rebound over smaller defenders as emblematic of the pressure he’s putting on Oklahoma City’s frontcourt.
“That was the killer play—that putback,” one Eastern Conference assistant coach said.
“And it wasn’t just that moment—all night, he was crashing, cutting, sealing. They may not have an answer when he slides to the 5, either.”
Scouts also pointed to a critical moment late in the fourth quarter—a lane violation on Siakam’s free-throw attempt that gifted Indiana a key extra point.
“That lane violation was a gift,” one Eastern Conference scout said. “It gave Indiana an extra point when they were trying to claw back—that’s the margin in a one-point game.”
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren Must Elevate Their Play
A common theme included blunt criticism about Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren needing to deliver more for the Thunder. Williams finished with 17 points, four rebounds and six assists, but shot just 6-of-19 from the field and made only 1-of-4 from three in Game 1.
“They need Jalen to be an All-NBA guy—period,” one Western Conference scout told RG. “Too often on this run, they’ve gotten away with him being inefficient and not taking enough pressure off Shai. In Game 1, it caught up to them.”
Others added that the Thunder can’t lean solely on Gilgeous-Alexander as this series progresses.
“That can’t be all on Shai every possession,” one Eastern Conference assistant coach said. “If Jalen doesn’t start dictating matchups and creating easier offense, this is going to stay an uphill climb for them.”
In contrast, scouts pointed to Nembhard’s play as an example of a co-star stepping up in a big moment. The Pacers guard scored 14 points with six assists and four rebounds, highlighted by a key step-back three over Gilgeous-Alexander and a critical late defensive stop.
Holmgren was also a focus of criticism. The Thunder big man posted just six points on 2-of-9 shooting and grabbed six rebounds in his NBA Finals debut.
“He looked sped up,” one Eastern Conference scout said. “Indiana’s physicality and Turner’s timing took him out of his rhythm. That’s an adjustment he’ll have to make quickly.”
“He can’t disappear like that,” one Western Conference assistant coach added. “They need his shooting and rim protection to swing a game at some point in this series.”
Turner’s Two-Way Impact Put a Lid on the Rim
Many pointed to Myles Turner as one of the unsung heroes of Game 1, crediting his two-way impact. He finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, hitting two key threes in the fourth quarter and anchoring Indiana’s interior defense during its late run.
“Turner was the X-factor,” one Eastern Conference assistant coach told RG.
“He gave them spacing, rim protection and composure—exactly what you want from a veteran big in this spot.”
Some scouts also credited Turner for making Holmgren uncomfortable throughout the night, both at the rim and in pick-and-pop actions.
“That’s a favorable matchup for Turner,” one NBA video coordinator said. “His timing at the rim is elite—he put a lid on the basket in key moments. You could see it affecting multiple Thunder players late. And when Turner spaces the floor, it pulls Chet away from the rim, which takes away one of OKC’s biggest defensive advantages.”
“That’s why you saw OKC get indecisive about their bigs late,” one Western Conference scout added. “They tried pulling Hartenstein, then going small, then going back to Chet—and none of it worked. Indiana’s spacing forced those decisions.”
Toppin and Nesmith Provided Timely Plays in Crunch Time
While the postgame focus was on Haliburton, Siakam and Turner, scouts also pointed to Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith as critical swing players late in Game 1.
Toppin finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists, hitting two massive fourth-quarter threes to help spark Indiana’s comeback.
“Obi’s threes were huge—those were momentum shots,” one Western Conference scout told RG. “And he played with so much confidence. He struggled in the first half but really turned it around. He’s a big piece for different combos since he can shoot, and his ability to run the floor wears on you if you’re trying to keep up.”
Nesmith also gave Indiana a major boost on both ends down the stretch. He posted a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double and buried a clutch 3-pointer in the final minutes to help erase Oklahoma City’s lead.
Mathurin, meanwhile, brought a crucial scoring punch during the Pacers’ pivotal second-half run. He contributed 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, and repeatedly attacked Hartenstein and Caruso in space to generate high-quality looks.
“Mathurin’s burst changed the tempo,” the NBA video coordinator said. “His attacks off the dribble opened up that stretch where Indiana flipped the game. They needed that punch with Haliburton off the ball.”
The Final Word
After Game 1, scouts see a series where Indiana’s matchup versatility is forcing Oklahoma City to make difficult adjustments—and that dynamic is unlikely to change quickly.
“Indiana has matchup problems that OKC has to solve,” one Eastern Conference scout told RG. “Until they do, this is going to be a long series—and this is why it’s not surprising they were able to go in there and take Game 1.”
Grant Afseth is a Dallas-based basketball writer with over eight years of experience covering the NBA. He’s spent time on the Mavericks beat for Sports Illustrated and now writes for Sportskeeda.com and DallasHoopsJournal.com. Known for his analysis, engaging interviews, and breaking news coverage, Grant provides a fresh angle to the game.
