The Oklahoma City Thunder had complete control for most of Game 1 of the NBA Finals . Behind a dominant first half and elite defense, they looked poised to take a 1-0 series lead over the Indiana Pacers. But a stunning late-game turnaround by Indiana left Oklahoma City stunned in a 111-110 loss — capped by another Tyrese Haliburton game-winner.

Despite the defeat, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t focused on the collapse itself. Instead, he emphasized the lesson learned.

“It is a 48-minute game. [The Pacers] teach you that lesson more than anybody else in the league the hard way.”

The Thunder vs. Pacers battle saw Gilgeous-Alexander drop 38 points in his NBA Finals debut. But a 15-point fourth-quarter lead wasn’t enough. Chet Holmgren struggled mightily, scoring just s

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