Pacers celebrate historic victory! Thunder under pressure in NBA Finals!

Pacers celebrate historic victory! Thunder under pressure in NBA Finals!

The Oklahoma City Thunder were defeated by the Indiana Pacers 107:116 in the NBA Finals. With this loss, the Thunder are now down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. What's particularly annoying for OKC is that they lost the first game in their own stadium. The next game takes place on Saturday night (CET) in Indianapolis, where the Pacers are aiming for their first championship.

The Pacers, playing a home game in the NBA Finals in 25 years, led 64-60 at halftime. That two-point lead was crucial as Oklahoma City started the game well but lost control of the game in the second half. Tyrese Haliburton, who gave his all for his team with 22 points and 11 assists, was positive about the win and the support from the fans.

The Pacers' offensive strength

Bennedict Mathurin was the outstanding player on the field, he scored 27 points and was the best thrower of the game. Pascal Siakam also contributed significantly to the victory, contributing 21 points, including the final basket of the game. T.J. McConnell flashed a remarkable performance by becoming the first bench player in NBA Finals history to play a game with at least 10 points, 5 assists and 5 steals.

The Pacers' success in the current postseason is impressive; they are undefeated if they score 110 points or more. They also managed their bench player usage more successfully in the first half, significantly outscoring the Thunder bench 30-11.

Weaknesses of the Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder, who won 68 games in the regular season and therefore had high expectations heading into the Finals, struggled with a lot of turnovers. They lost the ball 19 times, which must be seen as a significant factor in the defeat. Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were the best scorers for the team with 26 and 24 points, respectively, but could not prevent the defeat.

The Thunder have an eventful playoff history. The franchise, which has played in Oklahoma City since rebranding from the Seattle Supersonics less than 20 years ago, has accomplished a lot. However, they have been waiting for a title since their last Finals appearance against the Miami Heat in 2012. This finals series now represents a defining moment as the franchise looks to triumph for the first time as the Oklahoma City Thunder, having previously won the title as the Supersonics in 1979.

The next game in Indianapolis on Friday could be crucial for the Thunder. Another loss would put them on the brink of elimination, while the Pacers would be just two wins away from their historic first championship.