OKLAHOMA CITY — The Indiana Pacers found their aspirations for a flawless start in the first two games of the NBA Finals thwarted. Instead, they must be content with a split after a tough Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Pacers aimed to create history by making a perfect 8-0 run in the opening two games across the four playoff rounds, sweeping all series in a rare feat achieved by only four other teams. However, the Thunder disrupted their plans by dominating Game 2 with a 123-107 victory, leveling the finals at one game each.
“When you’re the lower seed, your job is to at least even the score by getting a win on the road,” stated Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. “We succeeded in Game 1, but let things slip, especially in the second quarter this time.” Indeed, a decisive 19-2 run by the Thunder in that quarter gave them control, resulting in a 16-point final lead.
The Pacers were on track to join the ranks of the 1986 Celtics, 1987 Lakers, 1996 Bulls, and 2017 Warriors, legendary teams that swept the first two games in each postseason series and clinched the championship. Those teams had the benefit of home court throughout, unlike the Pacers, who haven’t had that advantage since their first round against Milwaukee. They emerged victorious in the initial two games of series against Cleveland and New York, and took Game 1 of the finals away at Oklahoma City.
Ultimately, the Pacers settled for a commendable 7-1 record in initial postseason games, tied for fifth-best in NBA history. They also were only the third team to win five of these games as the visiting team, along with the 1995 Rockets and 2023 Heat, who both reached the titles, with Miami also achieving a similar feat in the 2020 bubble playoffs.
“Winning every game is always our aim,” expressed Pacers forward Pascal Siakam. “Today just didn’t go our way, and that’s disappointing.” Despite this setback, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized focusing on the current moment, stating, “Reflecting too much on the past can be risky. Our attention must be present-focused.” Had the Pacers triumphed on Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead home would have placed them as favorites historically to win the finals, given that only two teams—the 1993 Bulls and 1995 Rockets—have dominated the first two road games of finals and then taken the title. Finals teams with a starting 2-0 edge have an 86.5% success rate in securing the championship.
“We need to stay composed and be mindful of our strategies,” added Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith. “We know our adjustments and must execute them better.”