NDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers rode an emotional roller coaster Thursday night.

They stood and applauded in tribute to the late Nancy Leonard, the organization’s matriarch. They cherished the newest addition to the fieldhouse rafters, an Eastern Conference championship banner. The fans booed, naturally, as Oklahoma City’s players were introduced and roared at the sight of the dapperly dressed two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton.

Yes, opening night had a little bit of everything in this NBA Finals rematch, which ended in a 141-135 double-overtime victory for the Thunder, who got 55 points from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I'm sure our fans will provide a great environment for this game,” coach Rick Carlisle predicted before tipoff. “There are a lot of unknowns heading into th

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