Shaq & Kenny React to Pacers Game 1 Win vs. Thunder – 2025 NBA Finals

The air was electric in Oklahoma City, the kind of charged anticipation that only the NBA Finals can bring. The Thunder, young and hungry, had stormed their way to the championship round, and the home crowd was ready to see them take the next step. But on this night, the Indiana Pacers had other plans.

As the final buzzer sounded and Indiana celebrated a stunning comeback win, the NBA TV GameTime studio flickered to life. Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Isiah Thomas sat at the desk, their faces a mix of disbelief and excitement. The script for Game 1 had been torn up and tossed out the window.

“Man, he froze the defense,” Shaq started, shaking his head. “Tough cover. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an NBA Finals game quite like that.”

Kenny nodded, still processing what he’d witnessed. “Yeah, you did,” he replied, referencing past playoff surprises, but Isiah quickly clarified: “Not like this. Not in the Finals. A team that doesn’t play well and still wins? I don’t think I’ve seen that.”

The Thunder, favored by most analysts and playing at home, had controlled the game for long stretches. They’d built double-digit leads, the crowd roaring with every run. Yet, something was off. “OKC didn’t play well either,” Kenny pointed out. “They had so many turnovers. Eighteen, maybe even twenty-five by the end. But what really hurt them? They couldn’t convert those turnovers into points. Just eleven points off all those chances.”

Shaq leaned forward, his massive hands folded on the desk. “Neither team was playing their best,” he said. “But you look up, and suddenly Indiana’s only down eight, then someone hits a three, and it’s a five-point game. It just kept happening.”

The highlight reel was supposed to roll, but technical difficulties intervened. Shaq, never missing a beat, joked, “No, you’re having technical difficulties. Me, Isiah, and Kenny? We never have difficulties.” The crew laughed, but the conversation quickly turned back to the game’s key moments.

Kenny zeroed in on Oklahoma City’s star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “He had 38 points, which for most guys is a great Finals performance. But he was 14-for-30 from the field, and only eight free throws. For a player of his caliber, that’s not efficient enough.”

Isiah agreed but added nuance. “Greatness is being able to get your shots off, but at the Finals level, you have to be efficient. We always say for Shai, he needs to be north of 13-for-20. But what impressed me was how Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton responded. Even when they took the ball out of his hands in the fourth, when it mattered, he hit the game-winner.”

That was the story of the night: Indiana’s resilience. Every time Oklahoma City threatened to pull away, the Pacers found a way back. Sometimes it was a big three from Andrew Nembhard or a clutch steal from T.J. McConnell. Other times, it was Haliburton’s poise, orchestrating the offense, creating shots for others, or calmly knocking down his own.

“He’s the kind of guy who can beat you taking eight shots or taking twenty,” Isiah said. “He affects the game in so many ways. He’s not selfish. He lets the game come to him, but when it’s time to make a play, he does it.”

The stats told a strange story. The Thunder had the edge in most categories—more rebounds, more points in the paint, fewer turnovers in the second half. But the Pacers hit six threes in the fourth quarter, outscoring OKC by seven from deep in the final frame.

“OKC’s a great team,” Shaq said, “but they’re at their best when Shai, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are all clicking. Tonight, Chet only had six points. Indiana had six guys in double figures. That’s the difference.”

Kenny nodded. “Even with all Indiana’s turnovers, they could rest easy knowing they were shutting OKC down. The Thunder struggled to score and couldn’t break away.”

The show cut to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s postgame press conference. His words were measured, but you could hear the frustration beneath. “Credit to Indiana,” he said. “They keep coming, they keep playing, and they made the plays tonight. We’ve got to learn from it. It’s not first to one, it’s first to four. We’ll get better.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced the media too, his voice steady but his eyes betraying disappointment. “We just have to treat it like every other game,” he said. “The rules don’t change just because it’s the Finals. We’ve been here before, in tough spots. We’ll be ready for Game 2.”

Back in the studio, Shaq shook his head. “I get what he’s saying, but this isn’t just another game. This is the NBA Finals. You get a double-digit lead at home in this moment, you have to put them away. You don’t know if you’ll ever get back here.”

Kenny broke down the supporting cast—the “others,” as Shaq called them. “Obi Toppin, Thomas Bryant, Nembhard, McConnell, Nesmith—they all stepped up for Indiana. OKC’s bench didn’t play up to their ability tonight. That’s what kept Indiana in the game and allowed Haliburton to shine.”

Isiah pointed to the numbers, his voice tinged with concern for the Thunder. “They shot 39% from the field, 36% from three, and got out-rebounded 56 to 39, at home. Indiana didn’t even play a great game—they turned the ball over a ton—but they found a way to win. If OKC can’t rebound or score, and if Indiana cleans up the turnovers, don’t be surprised if the Pacers take Game 2 as well.”

The panel agreed: the Finals were wide open. Indiana’s win wasn’t a fluke. They’d shown the heart and grit of a true contender. Oklahoma City, so dominant all season, now faced real adversity. Could they respond?

As the show wrapped, Shaq offered a final thought. “One thing we’ve seen all playoffs: when you need a big bucket late, Tyrese Haliburton answers the call. If OKC can’t figure out how to close, Indiana might just shock the world.”

The city of Oklahoma City emptied into the night, stunned and searching for answers. In Indiana, hope soared. The NBA Finals had delivered a classic, and the story was just beginning.