The Indiana Pacers continued their impressive playoff runs by securing a 1-0 series lead with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Indiana Pacers have opened their NBA Finals in an advantageous position and are not facing a series deficit in the playoffs, so they’re going from start to finish against the Bucks, Cavaliers and Knicks.
Game 1 of the final was another impossible victory for the comeback pacer, who was behind the entire opener before Tyreese Halliburton’s late winner.
The Pacers scored 111-110, with Halliburton scoring a 2-pointer late score with just a few seconds remaining.
Halliburton was one of six pacer players to win the double figure, and he proved his team’s strength in depth.
One of the Pacers’ heroes in Game 1 was Obitoppin, who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, including a ton of threes.
Toppin was 6-9 from the field, including 3 to 5-8, and his slow scoring helped Pacer carry with the Thunder’s double-digit advantage.
After the match, teammate Miles Turner greatly praised Toppin’s unwavering calm.
Turner told the media: “Man, his confidence never wavered.
“He started the game with a few sales. Those that didn’t made an impact right after that, and they managed to hit a few times right after that. They could move their feet defensively and get out and run.
“He’s a very important person to our system. I think it was a huge boost to him, especially for Game 1.”
Turner acknowledged that the confidence Pacer players have could be attributed to head coach Rick Carlisle.
“A lot of it comes from Rick. He plants it in us. He isn’t like the Lara man, his speech, his preparation adjusts us.
“I think I like his overall mentality. I think that’s going to be something we prepare for such a moment. And you’re the year this year and you’re actually the one who’s been there, exactly six times.”
Tailese Halliburton scored 14 points in the win along with 10 rebounds and six assists. All I remember was his dramatic late 2-pointer.
Turner offered praise to Halliburton for achieving the habit of gaining dramatic clutch shots during the regular season and playoffs.
“Ultimate Ultimate Confidence. Some players will say they have it, but there are other players who show that.
“That’s one of the things I admire about him. He’s a baller and a hooper and he’s really just a gamer.
“When it comes in the moment, he wants the ball. He wants to be the one who hits that shot. He’s not embarrassed to have this moment of the year or to have a very important guy.
“He just keeps finding his way, we keep the ball in the right place, and the rest is history.”