The Indiana Pacers invested several days in preparation for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s fiercely aggressive defense. However, they encountered a setback during the first half of Game 1 on Thursday, where they committed 20 turnovers.

This staggering statistic marked a historically poor display of ball security and was shocking for a team that usually reflects the composure of its franchise player, Tyrese Haliburton, known for his skillful handling and low turnover rate. However, the Thunder are adept at exploiting their opponents’ weaknesses, particularly on such monumental occasions.

“I was a bit nervous in the first quarter, rushing my plays, moving too fast without proper setup,” Haliburton acknowledged. “I felt anxious, and I guess my teammates did too.”

The difference between maintaining speed and being rushed is crucial. Indiana aims to dictate the pace but struggled against OKC’s early pressure.

“It’s not our goal to make them turn over the ball; we focus on disruption,” commented Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

The first half showed evidence of their strong defense as Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard misfired several passes to Myles Turner, which the Thunder capitalized on. Benedict Mathurin’s drive against three OKC defenders didn’t count as a turnover, but it exemplified the challenge they faced.

“Their defense is immensely challenging to contend with,” admitted Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. “We often put ourselves in crowded scenarios, and at times they simply snatched the ball away from us. The quality of their defensive play is outstanding.”

By halftime, the Pacers were down 57-45, a manageable deficit considering their turnover issues. “With that many turnovers, you could expect to be trailing by more than 20 points,” stated Pacers forward Pascal Siakam. Thankfully, Oklahoma City managed to score just nine points from those turnovers and had a poor shooting percentage of 37% from the floor.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Carlisle reassured his players during the halftime break. “We are still in this game.”

After regrouping, Indiana steadied themselves, reducing the shortfall toward the end of third quarter, only to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander add a last-second three-pointer that pushed the lead back to nine points. Shortly into the fourth quarter, T.J. McConnell made a critical turnover by throwing an inaccurate pass during a baseline-inbound situation, leading to a Thunder dunk. Down by 15, the Pacers revamped their lineup and surged back, ultimately securing the win in a thrilling yet predictable fashion.

Haliburton is no stranger to game-winning shots, consistently rising to the occasion in close matches, leading to little surprise in his performance. “There was never a moment of disbelief as a team. Honestly, even after messing up so much in the first half, I felt it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. It’s never over for us,” he stated following the 111-110 victory.

In the second half, Indiana only turned the ball over five times, sporting a turnover rate of 10.4%. Haliburton was opportunistic in his attacks against the Thunder, also delivering a stunning shot while ensuring he let others contribute without forcing plays. During the fourth quarter, with a lack of an open shot, Haliburton was seen instructing Turner to continue the play initiated by Nembhard for an open midrange shot.

Instead of trying to overpower every play, Haliburton acknowledged the benefit of team play, allowing Nembhard to initiate some offensive strategies. Earlier in the quarter, Nembhard impressively managed to score over the towering Chet Holmgren, along with creating additional scoring opportunities.

Even with Indiana having managed the game, each player made significant contributions without any individual scoring overly high, as all starters scored in double digits, including Toppin. “This balance makes them tougher to defend,” remarked Thunder forward Jalen Williams.

Overall, it’s crucial for Oklahoma City to reevaluate since they couldn’t convert their turnovers into captivating scoring opportunities. In the opening game, Daigneault expressed that these circumstances were merely a starting point, underlining the importance of improvement leading up to Game 2 this Sunday. The Pacers, on the other hand, carry the momentum of their unexpected win into the next showdown.

“With the stats laid out, this isn’t how we win games,” Haliburton concluded. “A turnaround is necessary, we need to dive into gaps and manage rebounds better. At this stage, it doesn’t matter how you achieve the wins, just achieve them.”