Indiana Pacers Knock Off Oklahoma City Thunder In NBA Finals Rematch
In what might be the weirdest, most exhilarating outcome of the 2025-26 season so far, the Pacers won 117-114. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t expected, but for a fanbase that has suffered through a brutal 11-35 start, it was beautiful.
The Pacers Embrace the Chaos Of “Small Ball”
Indiana has been beaten up this year. Injuries have turned the roster into a revolving door. But facing a Thunder squad that was also missing key defensive pieces like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, Head Coach Rick Carlisle decided to get weird.
He ditched the traditional center spot. Instead, the Pacers rolled out a lineup that looked more like a college track team than an NBA frontcourt: Pascal Siakam at the five, flanked by wings Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, and Johnny Furphy.
The result? Absolute speed. The Pacers ran the Thunder off their own floor in the first quarter, shooting nearly 55% from the field and jumping out to an early lead. By forcing Oklahoma City to chase them around the perimeter, Indiana negated the size disadvantage and turned the game into a track meet. It was a risky gamble, one that usually ends with getting crushed on the glass, but on this night, the gamble paid out.
Jarace Walker and Andrew Nembhard Step Up
You can’t talk about this win without highlighting the backcourt and the youth movement. Nembhard, who has had the unenviable task of steering a struggling ship this season, looked like a maestro. He dropped 27 points and dished out 11 assists, controlling the tempo against one of the best defenses in the league.
But the emotional heartbeat of the night was Walker. Promoted to the starting lineup to make the small-ball experiment work, Walker played the game of his life. We’re talking a career-high 26 points, bullying his way to the rim, and hitting clutch free throws when the game turned into a foul-fest down the stretch. For a young player still finding his footing in the league, staring down the defending champs and not blinking is a massive moment.
And let’s pour one out for Nesmith’s shooting slump, which officially died on Friday night. After shooting roughly 21% from deep since early January, Nesmith finally saw the ball go through the net, chipping in 17 points and looking like the glue guy this team desperately needs him to be.
Surviving the SGA masterclass
Here is the terrifying part of Friday night: The Pacers played a near-perfect strategic game, and they still almost lost because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an alien.
The reigning MVP was simply ridiculous. He dropped 47 points on 17-of-28 shooting. He lived at the free-throw line (12-for-12). He was getting to his spots at will, and there wasn’t a single defender in a yellow jersey who could stay in front of him. It felt like watching a horror movie where the villain just keeps getting back up.
But basketball is a team sport, and while SGA was playing 1-on-5, the Pacers were getting contributions from everyone. Even when the Thunder cut the lead to a single possession late in the fourth, Indiana responded every single time. Whether it was a Nembhard drive or a Walker free throw, they refused to fold.
A Wild Finish For the Pacers
The ending was pure stress. With the Pacers clinging to a three-point lead, the Thunder had one last shot. The ball found Isaiah Joe in the corner. The Paycom Center held its breath. The shot went up… and rimmed out. Exhale, Indiana.
Does this win fix the season? No. At 11-35, the lottery balls are still the most likely prize at the end of this tunnel. But for one night, the Pacers reminded everyone that on any given Friday, even the giants can fall. It was gritty, it was surprising, and frankly, it was the most fun this team has looked in months.
