NBA Finals: Haliburton caps huge rally with winning jumper as Pacers stun Thunder 111-110 in Game 1

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton and the never-say-die Indiana Pacers pulled off yet another last-second comeback, this time on the NBA's biggest stage.

Haliburton's 21-foot jumper with 0.3 seconds left gave Indiana its first and only lead of the game, and the Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals after a comeback for the ages.

“Man, basketball's fun,” Haliburton said. “Winning is fun.”

Especially like this.

The Pacers turned the ball over 25 times, trailed by 15 points in the fourth quarter against a team with the best home record in the NBA and had no answers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the NBA MVP who led all scorers with 38 points.

But they had the league's new Mr. Big Shot, who has now had one of these moments in every series the Pacers have played in these playoffs.

— April 29, Indiana trailed Milwaukee 118-111 with 34.6 seconds left in overtime. Haliburton scored with 1.4 seconds remaining and the Pacers won 119-118.

— May 6, Indiana trailed Cleveland 119-112 with 48 seconds left and won 120-119. Haliburton got the game-winner with 1.1 seconds to play.

— May 21, Indiana trailed New York 121-112 with 51.1 seconds left in regulation. Haliburton sent it to overtime on a jumper with no time on the clock; Indiana won 138-135.

Now, this.

“We've had lots of experience in these kinds of games,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Pacers were down by 15 with 9:42 left, their rally the biggest in the fourth quarter of a finals game since Dallas also came from 15 down to beat Miami on June 2, 2011.

Carlisle coached those Mavericks. And, well, here he is again.

“That’s a really good team," Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said. "Credit them for not only tonight but their run. They've had so many games like that that have seemed improbable. And they just play with a great spirit and they keep coming. They keep playing.”

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 19 points. Obi Toppin scored 17, Myles Turner had 15, and Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.

Jalen Williams had 17 and Lu Dort scored 15 for Oklahoma City, which was 36-1 at home with 15-point leads this season.

Game 2 is at Oklahoma City on Sunday night.

Oklahoma City led by 15 early in the fourth when Carlisle called time and subbed out all five players, seeking a spark. It worked. The Pacers outscored the Thunder 15-4 over the next 3:26 — getting within 98-94 on a 3 by Turner with 6:16 left.

They weren't done. And in the final second, they found a way. Again.

“We had control of the game for the most part," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Now, it's a 48-minute game. And they teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league — the hard way.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrates with forward Aaron Nesmith (23) after making a 3-pointer during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrateswith center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) after a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, fouls Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after a dunk during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Terada/Pool Photo via AP)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin walks on the court during a practice, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and other members of the Pacers high five during a practice, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort gives an interview after a practice, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault speaks on the court after a news conference, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

CLEVELAND (AP) — In Ohio's closely watched race for governor, Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic former health chief Amy Acton rolled out their picks for running mate on Wednesday, announcing a seasoned conservative lawmaker for him and an outspoken former party chair for her.

Ramaswamy tapped Ohio Senate President Rob McColley while Acton chose former state Democratic Chair David Pepper. Though neither selection is a household name, each brings experience in elective office to a ticket that previous had none.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine cannot seek reelection because of term limits.

“I’m an entrepreneur, not a politician," Ramaswamy, a billionaire biotech executive from Cincinnati, said in announcing McColley as his choice. He said he wanted a partner who understands legislating and can help him charge ahead on his aggressive policy agenda.

“He has experience that I don't,” Ramaswamy told a crowd during an upbeat Cleveland introduction event.

McColley, 41, of northwest Ohio, was first elected to the Ohio House in 2014 before being appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy in December 2017. The campaign touted his efforts to reduce government bureaucracy, cut taxes and fight Acton's COVID-19 orders.

Acton, a physician and former nonprofit executive who helped lead Ohio’s early pandemic response as DeWine's state health director, said Pepper's track record as a problem-solver on Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission will serve as an asset to her campaign.

The two held their first joint public appearance during an affordability roundtable in Columbus.

“I’ve been going everywhere and listening deeply for almost two years now, and people are longing for public servants again who solve the problems of our everyday life,” Acton said in an interview. She said that through his city and county roles, Pepper “has faced just about every problem a governor faces.”

The campaign pointed to Pepper's work spearheading a foreclosure prevention program, introducing a prescription drug discount program for county residents, leading an earned income tax credit initiative, helping balance budgets and holding the line on property taxes.

Ramaswamy's team was quick to point out other aspects of Pepper's record.

Chief strategist Jai Chabria called the son of a former Procter & Gamble CEO “a nepo baby” — and cited Pepper's unsuccessful bids for higher office.

“Ohio voters have repeatedly rejected David Pepper for political office, including for mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio auditor of state, and Ohio attorney general, where he managed to get just 38 percent of the vote," Chabria said in a statement.

Speakers at Ramaswamy's rally called Pepper's positions on gender identity and reproductive rights “radical.”

McColley's record in office was also held up to scrutiny Wednesday. The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association pointed to his support for bills banning most abortions in Ohio and creating new hurdles for solar and wind projects as signs the ticket is too extreme.

“Vivek Ramaswamy’s choice of Rob McColley as his running mate tells Ohioans everything they need to know: this ticket is about power and special interests, not lowering costs," Kevin Holst, the group's executive director, said.

FILE - Ohio state Sen. Rob McColley speaks during the Ohio Republican Party dinner, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lima, Ohio. (AP Photo/Lauren Leigh Bacho, File)

FILE -In this Feb. 27, 2020 photo, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton holds up a mask as she gives an update on the state's preparedness and education efforts to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 at MetroHealth Medical Centre in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

FILE—David Pepper, the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, speaks at the Hamilton County Board of Elections on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)