Thunder Set the Tone With Confidence and Teamwork
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals was all about the Oklahoma City Thunder making a statement against the Indiana Pacers. The final score—123-107—leaves no doubt about who controlled the pace from start to finish. Thunder fans barely had time to get nervous before their team’s confidence and polish took over. This time, there was no slow start, no confusion—just decisive basketball that showed lessons learned from earlier postseason battles.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played like the leader everyone expected him to be. He picked his spots, got to the rim, drew fouls, and made shots look easy—even when they weren’t. On defense, he stuck to Indiana’s guys and disrupted their plans, giving Oklahoma City a huge advantage on both ends. Jalen Williams, meanwhile, elevated his game at just the right time. Williams and Chet Holmgren kept the crowd buzzing with their smooth lob plays, and their chemistry was impossible to miss. Whenever it seemed like the Pacers might close the gap, that duo had an answer—usually with Holmgren swatting a shot or finishing a tough one inside.
The Thunder’s bench turned the momentum up another notch. Alex Caruso delivered a much-needed scoring punch with 20 points in just over 20 minutes. He found his groove early, attacking the rim and hitting from outside. Every bucket seemed to sap just a bit more hope from the Pacers. On defense, Aaron Wiggins made life miserable for Indiana’s perimeter shooters, constantly bothering ball-handlers and earning praise from Coach Mark Daigneault during post-game interviews. Caruso and Wiggins together held Indiana’s bench in check, keeping OKC’s lead safe anytime the starters rested.
Pacer Problems: Missed Shots and Missed Chances
Indiana struggled out of the gate, especially from deep. They went just 2-for-7 from three in the first quarter, and that trend didn’t improve much as the game wore on. The Pacers’ usual high-powered offense ran into a brick wall, with Thunder defenders rotating quickly and closing out on shooters. Even when the Pacers did generate open looks, rushed shots, and defensive nerves led to ugly misses.
On defense, Indiana couldn’t find any answers for Gilgeous-Alexander’s drives or Holmgren’s inside presence. Their rotations often arrived a step late, and every time they adjusted, it seemed like the Thunder had already anticipated the counter. Key defensive stops by Gilgeous-Alexander and Wiggins in the second and third quarters killed any chance the Pacers had of making a real run. The bench unit simply couldn’t match what Caruso and the rest of Oklahoma City’s reserves brought to the table. As a result, the Pacers struggled to cut into the Thunder’s double-digit lead.
After the final buzzer, Coach Daigneault and the Thunder didn’t talk about individual glory—they focused on execution. Everyone stuck to their role, trusted the Oklahoma City Thunder gameplan, and played as a true unit. Now, with the series even at 1-1, things are heating up. Both teams know the pressure is on, and if this first game is any hint, fans are in for a wild ride in this Finals showdown.
