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SGA: Pacers teach you it's a 48-minute game

NBA Photos / National Basketball Association / Getty

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder became the latest comeback victims of the Indiana Pacers.

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton drilled a mid-range pull-up jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give the visiting side a stunning 111-110 victory Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

"We had control of the game for the most part of it. Now, it is a 48-minute game, and (the Pacers) teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league the hard way," Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters postgame, per ESPN.

Oklahoma City led by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter. The Thunder's top-ranked defense gave Indiana fits throughout the contest, tallying 14 steals and forcing 24 turnovers.

However, the Pacers refused to go away as they've done all postseason. They outscored the home team 32-16 over the final 9:42, capped by yet another clutch basket from Haliburton.

Haliburton now has five go-ahead or game-tying field goals in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime since the 1997 playoffs, trailing only LeBron James who has eight.

It was also the Pacers' fifth 15-point comeback victory in this year's playoffs, which is the most by any team since 1998.

"We never think the game is over ever. That never creeps in," Haliburton said after Thursday's contest, according to Andscape's Marc J. Spears.

The Finals resume at 8 p.m. ET Sunday in Oklahoma City.

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