The NBA Playoffs are a stage where legends are born, and on this particular night, the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a spectacle that will be talked about long after the final buzzer. While the box score might show Tyrese Haliburton with just 14 points, it was his clutch performance in the dying moments that stole the show—and the game—for the Pacers. But what truly made the night unforgettable was the reaction from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who broke down the game on national television, offering insights that only a Hall-of-Famer could provide.
The Setting: Underdogs in the Spotlight
Coming into Game 1, the narrative was clear: Oklahoma City, with its young stars and home-court advantage, was heavily favored. The Pacers were expected to struggle, especially against the Thunder’s dynamic duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams (JDub). Yet, as the game unfolded, it became apparent that Indiana had come to play—not just to participate, but to compete, fight, and ultimately, to win.
Shaq, sitting courtside, admitted he didn’t see it coming. “Nobody expected this. I did not expect this. I thought it should have been a blowout,” he said, echoing the sentiments of many fans and analysts. Indiana had not played their best basketball, and yet, there they were, hanging around, refusing to let the game slip away.
A Gritty, Unlikely Battle
The game itself was a grind. Neither team shot particularly well. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ All-Star point guard, was just 6-for-13 from the field—a stat line that would hardly make headlines. But as Shaq pointed out, “When you needed a bucket late… he provided it. 14 points, but the two that mattered most.”
Indiana’s resilience was on full display. “This team is resilient. They never panic. They keep fighting no matter what the situation is,” Shaq said, his voice tinged with admiration. He highlighted the performances of Obi Toppin, who provided crucial energy, and Andrew Nembhard, who hit a massive step-back three in the fourth quarter. Every time OKC seemed poised to pull away, Indiana found a way to claw back.
On the other side, the Thunder struggled to find their rhythm. JDub went just 6-for-19, and rookie sensation Chet Holmgren had a night to forget, managing only 6 points on 2-for-9 shooting. Despite their struggles, OKC had multiple chances to put the game out of reach. “I was sitting there on the floor and I was like, ‘Okay, they’re about to blow them out. Wait, okay, about to blow them out again. Wait, they’re about to blow them out…’ And then it kept happening,” Shaq recounted, describing the roller-coaster of momentum swings.
The Turning Point
The pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter. With the Pacers trailing, Haliburton took control. He didn’t force shots earlier in the game, a fact that Shaq critiqued as being “a little too passive for me.” But when the moment demanded it, Haliburton delivered, draining the game-winning shot that silenced the Oklahoma City crowd and sent the Pacers bench into a frenzy.
It wasn’t just about the shot, though—it was about the composure. Shaq emphasized how rare it is for a team to win a playoff game on the road when they haven’t played their best. “When you don’t have your best game and you can get a win, that just raises your confidence,” he said. For Indiana, this victory was more than a single game—it was a statement.
The Postgame Reflection
After the game, Shaq took a moment to reflect on what set this Pacers team apart. “A lot of teams when they go down deep double digits, I don’t want to say they quit, but they kind of just blow it off to the next game. You guys have great resolve and you guys never panic. Where does that come from?” he asked, directing the question at Haliburton and the coaching staff.
Haliburton’s answer was telling. “We have an amazing coaching staff and they do a good job just keeping us calm. For me, I’m just trying to be that presence of, ‘Let’s not panic. It’s okay, we make turnovers, get better, find a way to get better.’ So it’s just a team thing, but I know that coaches do a good job and I try to be that person.”
This sense of collective calm and accountability was evident throughout the game. Even when facing adversity, the Pacers never seemed rattled. They made mistakes, but they moved on quickly, refocusing on the next play.
An Unusual Game
Shaq, who has seen decades of playoff basketball, admitted, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an NBA game like that. A team that doesn’t play well and wins like this.” He noted that OKC, despite being highly favored and playing at home, could never quite capitalize on their opportunities. The Thunder forced 25 turnovers but managed just 11 points off those chances—a conversion rate that simply wasn’t good enough.
“You look up, you’re like, oh, they’re down 11. Then someone hits a three. Oh, they’re only down eight. OKC is highly favored. And at home. And there were a couple times they had double digit leads,” Shaq observed, still sounding a bit incredulous at the final result.
The Road Ahead
For the Pacers, this Game 1 win is a massive boost. It’s a reminder that in the playoffs, anything is possible. It’s not always the prettiest team or the most talented roster that prevails—it’s the team that stays together, keeps fighting, and delivers in the clutch.
For Oklahoma City, the loss is a wake-up call. They’ll need to regroup, take better care of the ball, and find ways to execute under pressure. The series is far from over, but the pressure has shifted.
And for Shaq, and everyone watching, it was a reminder of why we love the NBA Playoffs: the unpredictability, the drama, and the moments that turn role players into heroes and skeptics into believers.
As the final buzzer sounded and the Pacers celebrated, Shaq’s words lingered: “Kudos to Indiana. They played some excellent basketball today.” Game 1 belonged to the underdogs. The series, and the story, are just getting started.
