After the Indiana Pacers pulled off an improbable comeback victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder knotted things up with a convincing 123-107 victory in Game 2. The series is heading into Indiana tied 1-1, and both teams are reflecting on what they need to get an edge in the next matchup.
Pacers All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton spoke with the media after the Game 2 loss, addressing questions about Indiana getting off to a slow start for a second consecutive game. Rick Carlisle’s squad must make key adjustments to get their offense going for Game 3 and beyond. But that’s easier said than done against a swarming Thunder defense.
What Did Tyrese Haliburton Say After Game 2?
Haliburton was the hero in Game 1, knocking down a 22-foot jumper to give the Pacers a one-point lead with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. That shot cemented yet another valiant come-from-behind effort by Indiana in these playoffs.
Though Haliburton, once again, proved that he indeed has the clutch gene, he has struggled to get going at the beginning of games so far in the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City limited Haliburton to just three points and three assists in the first half of Game 2. He went 1-for-5 from the field and posted a -6 plus/minus. He turned it up in the second half, finishing the game with 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. But the Pacers star knows he can’t continue to start slow if his team wants to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Every shot from Tyrese Haliburton to tie or take the lead in the last 2 minutes this season pic.twitter.com/NS5PhfObi7
— Pitless (@pitlessball) June 6, 2025
“This is who they are defensively,” Haliburton said of the Thunder, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “They got a lot of different guys who can guard the ball, fly around. I just got to figure out how to be better earlier in games. Kudos to them, they’re a great defensive team. But [I will] watch the film, see where I can get better.”
Haliburton humbly gave credit to an Oklahoma City defense that has stifled opposing teams all season long. The Thunder had the NBA’s best defensive rating in the regular season (106.6), and they’ve been just as dominant in the postseason (105.2).
Still, Indiana’s offense had been rolling heading into this series (second-best offensive rating in these playoffs), and Haliburton acknowledged the adjustments the team must make moving forward.
“Our offense is built from the inside out,” Haliburton added. “We got to do a better job getting downhill. They collapse and then make plays there, but I thought we could improve a lot there. But they’re flying around. They got great point-of-attack defenders. They got great rim protectors. They’re a great defense.”
How Can the Pacers Attack the Thunder’s Defense?
Haliburton’s comments after Game 2 suggest that the Pacers need to do a better job getting into the paint. Indiana has mustered up just 34 points in the paint in each of the first two games of the NBA Finals. Conversely, the Thunder are averaging 44 points in the paint so far this series.
The Pacers’ paint scoring numbers have been up and down, ranking 14th in points in the paint per game in the regular season (49.6) and ninth in the playoffs (43.4). However, their marks against Oklahoma City are well below average, especially considering they just averaged 44 points in the paint during the Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks.
Attacking the paint consistently has been a tall task for every team facing the Thunder, who allowed the fewest points in the paint per game in the regular season (41.9) and the 3rd-fewest in the playoffs (40.1). Oklahoma City’s lineup features plenty of length, especially in the paint, where 7-footers Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein reside.
Haliburton is averaging 6.6 points in the paint per game in this year’s playoffs, the second-most on the Pacers behind Pascal Siakam (9.9). That number is a jump from his 5.0 points in the paint per game during the regular season. Still, the slow starts are concerning, and as resilient as this team has been on this run, Indiana cannot rely on pulling off unreal comebacks if they’re going to take down a complete team like the Thunder.
RT if you love Thunder defense 😤 pic.twitter.com/UDMc7Jfg5h
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 6, 2025
So, how do the Pacers attack Oklahoma City’s stingy defense?
The answer to that question may be simple, but executing the plan isn’t as easy as it sounds. However, as Haliburton stated, Indiana has to be aggressive, starting with the two-time All-Star. He’s the heartbeat of the Pacers’ high-octane offense. He might have an awkward-looking jump shot, but he’s a decisive playmaker who excels at creating offense for himself and others (9.3 assists per game in the playoffs).
Even when ball-handlers get into the paint against the Thunder, their defenders thrive at crowding the ball with relentless energy and active hands. But if Indiana’s primary ball-handlers, Haliburton and Nembhard, aren’t aggressive, they’re not keeping Oklahoma City honest. Fortunately for the Pacers, they have a host of floor-spacers who can take advantage of open looks on the perimeter.
Indiana has been the best 3-point shooting team thus far in the playoffs, knocking down 40.1% of its attempts. Siakam, Nembhard, Myles Turner, and Aaron Nesmith are each shooting better than 38% from deep on at least three attempts per game in the postseason. But the Pacers’ inability to get downhill consistently has negatively affected their spacing, thus limiting their ability to get good looks from the perimeter.
The Pacers have not had an answer for the Thunder’s physicality and defensive intensity. Entering Game 3, Haliburton must look to attack from the opening tip. He may not be a volume scorer like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as he’s only attempting 14.4 shots a game in the playoffs.
However, he cannot afford to be passive and take himself out of the action if his shot isn’t falling early on. Haliburton’s floor vision and craftiness with the ball in his hands allow him to make things happen without a heavy scoring burden.
When the Pacers attacked the paint during their impressive playoff run, good things happened for them. They stole Game 1 in the Finals, but reality smacked them in the face in Game 2.
With the series headed to Indiana, where they have played well (6-2 at home in the playoffs), Carlisle and company will need to make the necessary adjustments to take advantage of the strengths of their lineup — and gain an edge on a Thunder defense that no other team has been able to penetrate consistently up to this point.