82 regular season games. 12 playoff wins. Four more victories for hoops immortality.
It’s been quite the journey for both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers this season. The Thunder rattled the NBA landscape with a defense that caused opponents to shake while the offense rained lightning bolts as if Zeus were angry. The Pacers had some early-season engine troubles, but the car is now running at a capacity that would make Dominic Toretto proud.
The two forces finally square off for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
I will be updating this article throughout the game, so don’t be shy. Return often for sights and sounds that will please the eye.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATE:
OKC won the first quarter, 29-20.
IND shot a higher percentage, 47.1% to 40.7%. The issue, though, was that OKC attempted 10 more shots. OKC also shot three more free throwns and converted three more.
Both teams were excellent taking care of the ball, but the OKC defense was the best by a wide margin this season. In the first quarter, OKC had four steals and forced IND into nine turnovers. OKC only turned the ball over three times.
The MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($12,200; 18 FPTS) led the way with 12 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal. He played all 12 minutes and shot 5-of-12 from the field, 1-of-1 from downtown and 1-of-2 from the line.
Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,400; 11.5 FPTS) contributed seven points, two rebounds and a steal in only five minutes of action.
Lugentz Dort ($4,800; 10.5 FPTS) did not score a point but was instrumental with four rebounds, an assist and two steals.
For Indiana:
T.J. McConnell ($4,000; 8.25 FPTS) led the way with four points, a rebound and two assists.
Tyrese Haliburton ($11,000; 7.5 FPTS) only attempted three shots, making one. He finished with three points, two rebounds and an assist.
Pascal Siakam ($9,400; 8.25 FPTS) had some success when Cason Wallace switched onto him. Siakam had six points, a rebound and an assist.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATE:
OKC won the quarter, 28-25, and head into halftime with a 57-45 lead.
OKC is only shooting 37% from the field but has attempted 18 more shots than IND.
OKC has 11 steals! And has forced 19 turnovers while only having four.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($12,200; 32 FPTS) continues to put on a masterclass with 19 points, four rebounds, an assist, a block and two steals. He’s 8-of-18 from the field, 2-of-5 from downtown and 1-of-2 from the line.
Lugentz Dort ($4,800; 25 FPTS) continues to wreak havoc at both ends of the court. He has four steals, four rebounds and an assist. Dort has converted 3-of-5 from downtown for nine points.
Alex Caruso ($5,400; 21 FPTS) has only played 13 minutes, but contributed seven points, two rebounds, an assist, two blocks and three steals.
Chet Holmgren ($8,800; 7.25 FPTS) is not having a good game with four points and three rebounds. He’s 1-of-6 from the field.
For Indiana:
Tyrese Haliburton ($11,000; 21.5 FPTS) picked it up and now has six points, seven rebounds, three assists and a block. He’s 2-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from downtown.
Aaron Nesmith ($7,000; 14.5 FPTS) has four points, eight rebounds and a block. Nesmith has turned the ball over four times, though.
T.J. McConnell ($4,000; 13.25 FPTS) has played 11 minutes and put up nine points, a rebound and two assists. He’s converted 4-of-5 from the field and drilled his only three-point attempt.
Myles Turner ($8,000; 10.75 FPTS) has five points, three rebounds and two blocks, but he has also turned the ball over four times.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATE:
IND won the third quarter, 31-28.
OKC heads into the fourth quarter with the 85-76 lead.
IND is shooint 46.6% from the field while OKC picked it up slightly to 40.5%. OKC has attempted 21 more shots and converted five more.
IND is winning the rebound battle, 41-33. IND also has six more assists.
But, OKC has 12 steals to 0 for IND while the turnover spread is 22-6 in favor of OKC.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($12,200; 44 FPTS) is up to 28 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Lugentz Dort ($4,800; 34 FPTS) is the second leading scorer for OKC with 15 points. He also has four rebounds, an assist, a block and four steals.
Jalen Williams ($9,800; 20.75 FPTS) has been quiet because he’s converted only 3-of-12 from the field. Williams has nine points, three rebounds and five assists.
For Indiana:
Pascal Siakam ($9,400; 29.25 FPTS) leads with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Obi Toppin ($3,600; 16.25 FPTS) is the second-leading scorer for the Pacers with 11 points. He’s also chipped in three rebounds and an assist.
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATE:
Like the Energizer Bunny, the Pacers just kept going, and going, and going….
OKC scored the first seven points of the game and led for 47 minutes and 59.07 seconds. The Pacers made run after run, pulling to within four points, getting to within three points when, finally…..
When it counted the most, Tyrese Haliburton ($11,000; 38.5 FPTS) delivered. Haliburton finished the night with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a block. He shot 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-7 from downtown.
Pascal Siakam ($9,400; 39.5 FPTS) led the Pacers with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block. He shot 7-of-15 from the field, 1-of-2 from downtown and 4-of-6 from the line.
Myles Turner ($8,000; 30.25 FPTS) produced 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. He also banked in a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. He finished shooting 5-of-10 from the field, 2-of-5 from downtown and 3-of-4 from the line.
Aaron Nesmith ($7,000; 29 FPTS) did yeoman’s work at both ends of the floor, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a block.
Andrew Nembhard ($7,400; 28 FPTS) went AND-1 with two minutes left in the game to cut the deficit in half.
Nembhard finished with 14 points, four rebounds and six assists.
Obi Toppin ($3,600; 27.25 FPTS) played 25 minutes and had three turnovers, but he settled down in the second half and finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.
For OKC:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($12,200; 55.25 FPTS) was great as usual, finishing with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. He shot 14-of-30 from the field, 3-of-6 from downtown and 7-of-8 from the line.
Lugentz Dort ($4,800; 36 FPTS) had himself a game with 15 points, four rebounds, an assist, two blocks and four steals. He drilled five of nine attempts from beyond the arc.
Alex Caruso ($5,400; 31.5 FPTS) put on a show with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals in 28 minutes.
Jalen Williams ($9,800; 33.5 FPTS) and Chet Holmgren ($8,800; 15 FPTS) had poor games. Williams finished with 17 points, four rebounds, six assists and a steal, but shot only 6-of-19 from the field. Holmgren only played 24 minutes and produced six points, six rebounds and a block. He shot 2-of-9 from the field.
Indiana held the Thunder to 39.8% shooting from the field. OKC attempted 16 more shots, but Indiana made the same amount of field goals at 39. Indiana attempted nine more three-pointers and converted seven more.
OKC attempted three more free throws and ended up converting six more on the night, but Indiana was +17 on the boards and had 11 more assists.
Indiana pulled out the win despite having 13 fewer steals, 18 more turnovers and 12 fewer points in the paint.
Game 2 is Sunday in Oklahoma City.
DraftKings Sportsbook has OKC favored by 11 points with the total at 226.5.
