Indiana Pacers Dominate Game 1 Against Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Finals With Bench Firepower

PACERS START STRONG: BENCH LEADS THE WAY IN NBA FINALS OPENER

If you thought Indiana would ease into the NBA Finals, you haven’t been watching this squad. From the tip, the Indiana Pacers played like they owned the court, swarming the Oklahoma City Thunder with gritty defense and relentless energy. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle leaned hard on his bench—and it paid off big time.

Bennedict Mathurin was the spark plug. Dropping 27 points coming off the bench, Mathurin looked like he was built for the big stage. Every time OKC seemed close to stealing the momentum, Mathurin answered back. Whether slicing through defenders for a layup or pulling up from deep, his confidence put real fear in the Thunder’s second unit.

It wasn’t just scoring; Indiana’s reserves absolutely bullied OKC’s bench, chipping in whenever the starters needed a breather. Pacers fans have been waiting for this kind of depth—last night, they saw it in full bloom. The bench not only kept the lead safe but stretched it, forcing Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to scramble for answers.

HALIBURTON NEARLY TRIPLE-DOUBLES, PRESSURE CRUSHES OKC’S RHYTHM

Tyrese Haliburton was everywhere. Flirting with a triple-double, he racked up 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. But it wasn’t just the stats—Haliburton’s timing was spot on. In the fourth, just as Oklahoma City threatened to make a run, up came two ice-cold three-pointers from Haliburton. That’s when any hopes of a Thunder comeback fizzled right out.

Let’s not skip over TJ McConnell—his crossover-sparked jumpers in the second half kept Indiana on the front foot. Meanwhile, Jaylen Williams chipped in with 17, proving that Indiana doesn’t just rely on their stars. The Pacers kept pouring on full-court pressure, making every ball-handling moment a headache for Oklahoma City. Defensively, Indiana looked locked in, rotating quickly and contesting nearly every shot.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tried to drag his team back with late threes, showing flashes of why OKC fans love him. But the Pacers’ collective effort on defense—helped by Mathurin’s hustle—kept the Thunder’s shooters off-balance all night.

This game set the standard for the Finals. Indiana proved their bench is more than support—it’s a weapon. OKC now knows they can’t just focus on the Pacers starters. Game 2 is shaping up to be a real chess match, but for now, Indiana walks away with momentum and a clear blueprint for what works.