NBA Finals Game 1 Live Reaction: Pacers Stun the Thunder

Summary

Podcast Summary: NBA Finals Game 1 Live Reaction: Pacers Stun the Thunder

Episode Information

• Title: NBA Finals Game 1 Live Reaction: Pacers Stun the Thunder
• Host: Brian Windhorst
• Guest: Stephen A. Smith
• Release Date: June 6, 2025
• Podcast: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective

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Overview

In this episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith provide a comprehensive live reaction to the first game of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game culminated in a surprising victory for the Pacers, delivering a thrilling start to the series.

Game Highlights and Key Moments

Brian Windhorst opens the discussion by highlighting the unexpected outcome of the game. Stephen A. Smith expresses his disappointment, stating, “I’m distraught” ([00:52]). The duo delves into pivotal moments, such as the Thunder’s high turnover rate and the Pacers' clutch performances in the final minutes.

Clutch Plays:

• Miles Turner’s 3-Point Bank Shot: Turner’s critical three-pointer after a shot fake and step back is discussed as a game-changing moment. Windhorst remarks, “Bank in three after a shot fake, Step back. Crazy stuff, right? So you have a little bit of stuff like that” ([03:20]).

Key Performances:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA): Stephen notes, “SGA putting up 38 points but struggling with efficiency” ([03:58]).
• Tyrese Haliburton: The conversation shifts to Haliburton’s performance, with Stephen expressing concern over his inconsistency: “He wasn’t doing great, but it was like he wasn’t even trying to get going” ([11:40]).

Turnovers and Their Impact

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the Thunder’s turnover issues. The Pacers committed 25 turnovers, with 19 occurring in the first half. Windhorst explains, “They had 25 turnovers, but they had 19 in the first half. So they only had six turnovers in the second half” ([02:33]). Stephen emphasizes the detrimental effect of these turnovers on the Thunder’s gameplay: “If you turn the ball over almost 30 times in one game, that’s a tough pill for them to swallow” ([09:18]).

Defensive Strategies

The Pacers' defensive prowess is a focal point. Both hosts commend the Pacers for their defensive adjustments, particularly in containing the Thunder’s penetration.

Casen Wallace’s Defense:

• Stephen highlights Wallace’s effective guarding of Haliburton: “They played without Fowler at the end… Casen Wallace thinks he’s driving. He keeps going and he just stops” ([04:50]).
• Windhorst adds, “Casen Wallace gets Halliburton to take awkward shots” ([20:47]).

Lou Dort’s Defensive Effort:

• A standout defensive play by Lou Dort is discussed, with Windhorst praising his “verticality play” that could have been a game-winner ([20:51]).

Rebounds and Second-Chance Opportunities

The Pacers dominated the rebounding game, securing 17-18 more rebounds than the Thunder. Stephen comments, “They crushed him on the boards” ([16:17]), highlighting how second-chance opportunities from offensive rebounds further tilted the game in Indiana’s favor.

Reactions and Implications for the Series

Brian and Stephen analyze how this Game 1 win sets the tone for the series. Stephen opines, “This is how you mess up a series” ([28:56]), suggesting that the Thunder now face increased pressure in subsequent games. Windhorst concurs, noting, “Now, I’m not saying this wasn’t like a giveaway, but in a series like this, you’re now playing from behind” ([28:42]).

Series Outlook:

• Indiana Pacers’ Confidence: The Pacers gain a psychological edge, with their ability to manage close games effectively ([09:33]).
• Oklahoma City Thunder’s Adjustments: The Thunder need to address their turnovers and improve defensive responses in tight situations ([12:04]).

Locker Room and Team Morale

The discussion shifts to the emotional aftermath of the game. Stephen expresses frustration over the Thunder’s lack of visible emotion in the locker room: “I want to go check the locker room for popcorn, Gatorade, see if there’s some broken glass in there” ([25:35]). Windhorst remarks on the presence of Tyrese’s father among the Pacers’ supporters and the overall composure shown by the team despite the loss ([17:54]).

Notable Quotes

• Stephen A. Smith: “I need that last four minutes back” ([01:10]).
• Brian Windhorst: “If you're in the Pacers locker room, this is our series. We stole one” ([09:41]).
• Stephen A. Smith: “They are so together. But I mean, that’s my first time being in the back to see it like, you know, I could, I would never let the fans see me not loving my teammates while I'm sitting on the bench” ([27:54]).
• Brian Windhorst: “They have not been doing this down the stretch. They give that ball to Halliburton” ([19:34]).

Conclusion

The first game of the NBA Finals delivered unexpected excitement, with the Indiana Pacers securing a vital win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Brian Windhorst and Stephen A. Smith dissected the game’s critical aspects, from turnovers and defensive strategies to player performances and team morale. As the series progresses, both analysts emphasize the importance of adjustments and mental fortitude for the Thunder to overcome the setbacks from Game 1. The Pacers, on the other hand, look to build on their momentum and capitalize on their newfound confidence.

Listeners are left anticipating a fiercely contested series, with both teams poised to evolve and respond to the challenges presented in this opening game.

Transcript

[Iman Shumpert]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that.

[Brian Windhorst]

You can Venmo.

[Iman Shumpert]

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[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. Welcome to the hoop Collective. We talk about the NBA. We are here on the court at the end of Finals Game 1 with our special guest for the Finals, 2016, NBA Champion, Iman Shumpert.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm distraught.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're distraught because you've never seen stuff like that. Is that why you're distracted?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm more so. Yeah. I guess that's what it is. All the elements that was involved, SGA winning the matchup, OKC winning the turnover.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, they won it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The turnover rate. Yeah, they. They won that. And then Halliburton gets loose at the end. Like, I just.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, so let me just say this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I need that last four minutes back.

[Brian Windhorst]

Before the game, I was talking to the Pacers coach, right? And he goes, they're awesome. Talking about the Thunder, they're awesome. He goes, the way that we can win is by getting him into a close game at the end because we're better at that than they are. They're better at almost everything, but we're better than. We're better at that. At closing the game, exactly how he called it. So I think their goal, especially in a game where they're not hot on threes, there might be a game in this series where they get hot on threes and they just win it going away. But their goal is to make the Thunder sweat a little bit. Now, the thing is, is that several times they came at him and the Thunder pushed him back.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, I'm saying quick buckets by sga. I thought they had control.

[Brian Windhorst]

We're handling their business, right? But a couple of things. First off, The Thunder go 7 of 19 in the fourth quarter on shooting. So they go cold. That's not like, ridiculous. It's like 40, 37% or something. They go 05 on threes and there was a couple possessions there where like, Jalen Williams gets the ball in the wing. And I don't think he really wanted to shoot it. And that's happened before, I don't think.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But it wasn't indecisiveness. I don't think he wanted to shoot it. I think he could feel the game starting to feel like it was slipping a little bit.

[Brian Windhorst]

They played really good defense on the penetration. Like when the Thunder came in, they were really walling that stuff around the paint. So they made it up.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They played without Fowler at the end.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Okay, so they didn't foul. You're right. I thought Andrew Nemhardt. His Andrew Nemhardt stats don't look great. He was like 4 of 11, but he was super calming running their offense. They get into their offense. I think, you know, they had 25 turnovers, but they had 19 in the first half. So they only had six turnovers in the second half.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Brian Windhorst]

So. So there's. That's where you're starting to come. Change to come back.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. And then how do you. How do you come up. How do you get over the hump? You get over the hump with a little bit of craziness. Miles Turner banks in a three.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Bank in three after a shot fake, Step back.

[Brian Windhorst]

Crazy stuff, right? So you have a little bit of stuff like that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And Obi. Obi was consistent the whole time. I ain't gonna lie. He put a good ball game together for them.

[Brian Windhorst]

The last possession, the ball for the last real possession for the Thunder, the ball goes out of bounds, right? There's 20 seconds left. They got 14 seconds on the clock, so they can play straight up defense and off the foul. So that's what they do. Shump Shay gets a open like eight footer. He's got two feet of space. He's got an eight footer. He just missed it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

This is the finals. Stuff like that happens.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, he also. He had 35 or 38 points, which is very good. He did have 30 shots. He was 14 to 30.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He did.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's not a bad game. But he did shot a lot.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, he shot it a lot. A lot more. You think that creeps into the. The conversation, like I'm saying, You think the conversation crept in on him?

[Brian Windhorst]

Even if he makes that shot, Indy has a timeout and they're only down three. So I don't want to say that's the game. I'm just saying he's got a clean look from about 8ft. Is my memory serves. Without a doubt. And then I want to ask you about the last shot. So Carlisle trusts. Trusts his guys. He's got a timeout. He could call timeout. Advance the ball. He's like I'm not going to do that. They get it to Halliburton. Casen Wallace is on him. I thought he played good defense. Halliburton turns the corner and he gets one foot inside the three point range.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They were waiting for the step back.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. So Casen Wallace thinks he's driving. He keeps going and he just stops. He doesn't step back. He doesn't keep driving. He takes a 19 and a half footer from a very awkward spot on the court.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is it. That's an elbow shot for a point guard. That used to be the best shot in basketball for a point guard.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. But who practices shots One foot inside the three point line.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Two. Two. Two steps. I'll give him two steps inside.

[Brian Windhorst]

I thought.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I thought it was a pretty good jumper. Like I. I think that we've seen a lot of two guards. Triple threat attack it. Never with a live dribble like that. I'll give you that. On the dime. Going downhill like that. It's impressive. But I think the spot he picked. Most point guards are used to that. Playing in that channel.

[Brian Windhorst]

So this is. So you're an elite. We're an elite defender in your career. It's interesting that you talk about him not doing the step back because he did do the step back against the Cavs and he did do the step back against the Knicks. This one. No step back. He just shoots on a dime.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But they also got to know time to score. I probably would have played him for the step back. Honestly.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But they would have had to be conscious that he only needs a 2. Which is why they played the drive. You had to keep it honest. You know what I mean? It was a broken type of style play. Again. What I owe to the coaches that told you that prior. That's why Carlisle just was cool with it. Because he's like they can't play in this no man's land that we play in. And I think they play. Like you said. They're comfortable being uncomfortable.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Especially once they see Halliburton's eyes light up.

[Brian Windhorst]

They have. So they're 8 and 1 in clutch games in the playoffs.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

So they're like. You know. They're feel. They're not. They're not.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They're hanging a hat on it.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's a hell of a way to live.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It is Especially on the road. I don't like it on the. Not at home. I don't want it. I don't want them to play like.

[Brian Windhorst]

That or feel like that's the third time they've won a game like this on the road.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I love it on the road. On the road. The goal is to stay within 2, 3 possessions toward the end. Make your push. After that last TV timeout, my God, it's. We make that push. But they. That's what was wild. The whole game I kept saying they were flirting with that nine to 12, somebody would hit a three. Then they miss a three.

[Brian Windhorst]

They hit.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They stayed within range right there.

[Brian Windhorst]

So that's a good point. Because the one thing the Thunder do, they do knock people out. They push a game from. From 15 to 30.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Just held on to the rope.

[Brian Windhorst]

They held on to the rope and they got it in the end. Now at the end of the game, I'm thinking they're going to trap. They're going to trap Shay. They didn't trap him for the last shot.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Impressive.

[Brian Windhorst]

Come down here. I'm thinking they're going to trap Halliburton. They didn't trap him in a one.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't know. In a one possession game. That's tough.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You're asking an NBA player to not be an NBA player. Like, okay, I would. Now I'm cool with trying to make somebody play all game and you be new ball handler or what, whatever. At the end of a game, everybody's hot. I don't know what it is. The basketball gods have said it, but at the end of the game, that corner three goes in that you can't leave a guy wide open. And I wouldn't have sent the trap either. I think it was great job on both coaches parts to play it solid like that. I love a good man to man. As Shay walks in, they still got the same demeanor. Same demeanor. I do love that about their whole team. Well, not one of them are head down.

[Brian Windhorst]

By the way, the diamonds he was wearing were. I'm gonna win diamonds. I just want you to sit. But hey, Shay said he's consistent and he said that he weaponizes Ian Even Keel. So he just walked by. Even Keel, without a doubt. Now, okay, They're Even Keel publicly. I get that. What's going on in that locker room? What just went on in that locker room?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I hope somebody threw a chair through a glass. I hope that got kicked over. I hope Gatorade bottles were thrown. Their locker room should look awful. Like somebody should have a Lot of work to do tonight. Just because I know they know. You cannot do that. Where somebody turns the ball, turns the ball over, you're holding their head underwater. And then you don't drown them. Like, you cannot do that. Not on your home floor. You don't do that to these fans. I'm sorry. That was a tough pill for them. That's a tough pill for them to swallow when they were controlling it the whole game. It gives Indiana a ton of confidence coming into game two. If I'm Indiana now, my eyes are lit up saying, we turned the ball over almost 30 times in one.

[Brian Windhorst]

This is how you mess up series. You, you. You spike a game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like we said that, though, if they got game one, it'd be different. Game two. I don't even think it was possible.

[Brian Windhorst]

You are. You're right. We also said we thought the Thunder would win big or the Pacers would win close.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You said that in a close game.

[Brian Windhorst]

So.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. But I couldn't have seen that. So. No. So now if you're in the Pacers locker room, what do you think?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, I'm thinking this is our series. I'm thinking we stole one. It was already going to be hard for them in Indiana. And I'm starting to lick my chops and say I want to get greedy and take game two. If I'm the Pacers, I'm definitely saying we turned it over 30 times. We need to take. Cut that down to about 10 turnovers and make the other 10 shot attempts. And then within those shot attempts, I need to make sure that Halliburton didn't get off until probably six minutes to go where he looked confident and started handling the ball again. They were giving it off to. Why can't I say his last name? What's the other guard?

[Brian Windhorst]

Nemhardt.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Nemhardt. Nemhardt. My bad dog. My bad dog.

[Brian Windhorst]

It ain't. Nemhardt and Shea had a little back and forth between the Canadians.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I love that. I loved a little push, but I even loved more that the refs didn't entertain it well.

[Brian Windhorst]

First off, I thought it was a well officiated game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Very right. A lot of no calls that went. I loved it.

[Brian Windhorst]

And there was a review in the end, and they did the right thing. They didn't. They didn't change that call. That was the correct. Non. Non thing on the review. You don't agree. You think there's a foul?

[Stephen A. Smith]

If I was going for that loose ball, I got hit. That's a foul.

[Brian Windhorst]

You saying. You saying Siakam should have got fouled.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, that was a foul. I just feel like he doesn't. I feel like he doesn't fall. Like, he's not going to fall if he's by himself.

[Brian Windhorst]

Tough overturn that spot. That would have been shots. It doesn't matter because they won anyway. All right, so, by the way, I thought Nemhard. Nemhard, just total rock. Rock down the stretch.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I think. I think he. That's the thing. But that's the thing we've been talking about all series with the Thunder. I mean, with Indiana and last series as well, they always have another guy that can step up. They just plug him in. It's almost Allah. San Antonio spurs under Pop, where it's just like, whoever we plug in, they just kind of know what to do. I was kind of uncomfortable with it as a fan. Sitting back there watching him handle the ball. I'm like, well, when is Tyrese Haliburton going to catch his rhythm? Because the only chance y' all have.

[Brian Windhorst]

Is that he wasn't doing great.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He wasn't doing great, but it was like he's not even trying to get going. That's what was catching me off guard. Unaggressive. Halliburton just doesn't look good if I'm. If I'm rooting for the Pacers. But to see them do all that again. To see them do all that, that's another thing that I'm saying. If I'm in the Pacer soccer room, I'm saying our guys weren't. We didn't even get going. Pascal, Seattle, he didn't even get going.

[Brian Windhorst]

I agree. So if you're the Pacers, what you're saying is we're not going to turn the ball over 20.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We're not doing that. And we're not going to shoot it this bad.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We not going to have just anybody handling the ball. We're going to get it to our guy. Now that he made it down the stretch, his confidence is back. Got a little more bounce in his step. Like you. You take advantage of this.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, right. It's just one thing. If Halliburton goes for 35 and you win by one, you're like, wow, he had a great game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Awful game. Well, not again. There's never an awful game. Cause I believe he still had, what, 11 rebounds? I believe he had, what, eight assists, seven assists. I don't know the exact number.

[Brian Windhorst]

It wasn't a bad game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It wasn't a bad game. Like, his stat line was at like 12, 10 and 6 for a while.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm like, wow, he had 14, 10 and 6.

[Stephen A. Smith]

See what I'm saying?

[Brian Windhorst]

6 to 13.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So it's just like, with that, it's like he's still playing basketball the right way.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I don't like, I feel like a lot of those turnovers came from where we saw in other games. We saw Tyrese Halliburton get the ball because they didn't have anything going and they were gonna turn it over or take a bad shot. And he got them a great shot every single time. And I feel like if he can continue to do that, that they'll be, they're the team to beat now.

[Brian Windhorst]

Whoa.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm saying if he plays well, like, I knew that they were a good matchup for them. We've been talking about it as the, I mean, as the playoffs have gone on, we've been talking about how well Indiana matches up with everybody on paper and how well they can do what they do at the end of the game. We all have been talking about OKC and their consistency, but we have not been talking about just the inconsistency of Indiana. And they're still winning while being inconsistent with where it's going to come from.

[Brian Windhorst]

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[Brian Windhorst]

I think Chet Holmgren did not play a good game. He didn't rebound well. He didn't shoot well. Without a doubt, Jalen Williams didn't play well down the stretch.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But you called the small ball. They played it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And it was working.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, it was working. I'm just. I'm trying to. I'm now saying that the Thunder are going to play better.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, copy. Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Shea wasn't super efficient. 30 shots, 38 points. He does. He's better than that. He did want the ball.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think he wasn't. I think he just didn't get to that line. That's what. Usually he gets to the line. He's got a lot of guys really in foul trouble. Guys have to play different, guard him different, gap him different. He didn't do that tonight. I don't know if that's largely because of, you know, all the complaining about the fouls or anything, but I think the. The Pacers did a good job of just not fouling. They kept their hands out the cookie jar a couple of times. He got them with the little.

[Brian Windhorst]

Also, they crushed Pacers. Crushed him on the boards. I think they've had 17 or 18 more rebounds.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Crushed him on the board.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And they also took some wilder shots because some of them rebounds was pretty wild.

[Brian Windhorst]

You think so?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, yeah. Just they weren't. They were those Dennis Rodman rebounds where it's like how, you know, that was going over there. You know what I mean? Like, I used to watch Dennis Rodman rebound and be like, well, how did he know that that would go off like that? But I think they do. They got good instincts. They got good instincts, but their ability to, one, create second chance opportunities is underrated. And I'm telling you, I cannot think of this stat enough. I don't think I've been in the basketball game and turned the ball over.

[Brian Windhorst]

That much and lost it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

No.

[Brian Windhorst]

Even in high school. Oh. I mean, it won and won it. Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like, we. I've been on some great teams, but if you do that, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Like, to be able to do that, that's so impressive to me. And it's disheartening. If you're okc, it's exciting. It's. Oh, my God, it's so exciting. If I'm Indiana. And that's the only reason I'm saying it shifts, because I. I haven't. The same way we didn't see the Thunder have to deal with anybody down the stretch. They've never had to be down the stretch and feel like, oh, man, one mistake, and this could all go wrong. That's a different type of pressure for you mentally.

[Brian Windhorst]

So they've had some moments like this where they've blown games, but they've also had a couple of moments in the playoffs where they've been in tight situations and won. So I still. I thought. I wasn't, like, super worried about it coming in for the Thunder.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's. It's the tight situation at home. Yeah, it's that. That's uncomfortable for me.

[Brian Windhorst]

You know, the Pacers led this game for 3/10 of a second.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's what I'm saying. That's. So. That makes me uncomfortable.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Pacers flew a whole. The whole plane load of people down here. This isn't unusual. Teams do this, but they had a whole, whole bunch of people down here. Tyrese's dad, John, was in the building for sure. He kept his cool. He was definitely very happy.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I was looking for the towel. I was looking for this.

[Brian Windhorst]

Now, the towel stayed in Indy. Well, at least it stayed. It didn't make it to the arena. He kept his cool. Yeah, he left the floor. I don't know what he did when he went back in the back, but he left the floor. He kept his cool. As soon as Tyrese hit that shot, he's saying, no, no more choke sign or whatever. He's just saying, that's one. Because I think that's something Siakam has been telling those guys, like, you know, you got to win four. So the Pacers did try to keep their cool. So now we'll see if that actually carries over.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I do. I think, again, I love what OKC does because they baited Halliburton the same way we watched them bait Anthony Edwards. They show a wall, and they show you the correct basketball play to make, but they're waiting for you not to exhaust. You know what I mean? I think that it's really impressive that Halliburton and Nemha like their ability to be selfless in that moment and say, you know what? You handle the ball. You know, they got a little more Lou Dortz. He way out here guarding me. As soon as the ball goes, you bring it up. I don't need to exert extra energy. And, you know, being able to tuck that ego and be able to play like that, that's. Man. If you're Rick Carlisle, you have to be smart.

[Brian Windhorst]

This is how they've been playing this is what they've been doing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They have not been doing this.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, that they have too.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Not down the stretch. Down the stretch, they give that ball to Halliburton.

[Brian Windhorst]

I see what you're saying.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, like down the stretch. I'm so used to.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I thought you meant. Yeah, I see what you're saying.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, no winning down the stretch. Yeah, they've been doing it, but that's the first time I've seen them hard. Like.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Cause for a second I'm like, it looked like they just don't even want to fight. Like they're just going to take this loss. Like that's what I felt. Three after three couple stops, all the turnovers stopped. So this might happen. And Nema start penetrating. Once he started penetrating, you change sides of the floor. That defense gets weaker and weaker and weaker. All those gaps at the end that we saw Indiana being able to go, you saw niece Smith got that drive all the way here. He didn't finish it. He fumbled it. He really should have snaked it and went middle and went all the way around. Fumbled it a little bit. But you started seeing how all those drives were unavailable. The first half. Everything was unavailable. And then you saw little by little, especially at the end, it was Nemhard dribbling the ball and handling the ball that made everything become disarray because Lou Dort was too much on the. On the Halliburton.

[Brian Windhorst]

Although, by the way, since you brought up his name, the defensive play that Lou Dort made, that block.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, wow.

[Brian Windhorst]

The verticality play.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, yeah. Which. Which I thought as he walks out, great game. War. Yeah. As he walks out right here. I think it was right about right there. That's what I'm saying. As he walks out.

[Brian Windhorst]

That was a wild defensive that. That should have won the game. That's a game winning play.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It is. That's a. That's an effort. That's an effort. But I mean, being in these things over and over, you almost know at the end of the game that something like that's gonna happen, but you have to impose your will. I think that they were in a tough spot anyway at the end like that. But I don't know if everybody remembers. It's ironic that it's still the Pacers that we talking about. When I played for the Knicks, Paul George had a shot like that and I contested it because I contest everything. I don't care. But I touched his elbow. Cause he did the extra extension to get. But I touched his elbow and he missed that shot. And he ended up shooting free throws for it. But there's something at the end of the game where you're trying not to foul and I would never, ever, ever put the game in somebody else's hand.

[Unknown]

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[Brian Windhorst]

I think you're on mute.

[Iman Shumpert]

Workday is starting to sound the same.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think you're on mute.

[Iman Shumpert]

Find something that sounds better for your career on LinkedIn. With LinkedIn job collections you can browse curated collections by relevant industries and benefits like Flexpto or Hybrid workplaces so you can find the right job for you. Get [e-mail] jobs finding where you fit.

[Stephen A. Smith]

LinkedIn knows how I did it with D Rose. Ran off a screen and was like oh, I need to switch this screen. D Rose had a shot off the glass.

[Brian Windhorst]

I also remember, I think it was game one, 2014. When the game goes to overtime, you had a shot similar to what Halliburton had that hit the rim and almost.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Went in lipped off.

[Brian Windhorst]

Do you remember? You don't remember the shots you missed.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But anyway never remember the shots you missed. Just gotta shoot the next.

[Brian Windhorst]

But yeah, you're saying you don't. You don't. You absolutely don't want to put up.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I would never put. I've never found success at the end of the game as much as you. You work, you work your ass off all year to just make sure you're prepared for everything that you're gonna see. There's just something that it's in the air, especially for the playoffs and the finals that is just so special. You know, everybody in here, every player one through 15 on both sides has been waiting for this moment they've been dreaming about. This moment you was playing in your, in your backyard, dribbling the clock out. Like I know Halliburton has done this a million times. No chance. I'm giving it to you. Pass the ball, pass the ball. Do a spin, go through your legs, go behind your back, do something. But I can't let you shoot something with the ball just in front of you. Step, step. Like I just felt like it was too in rhythm. It was a broken play. And yeah, he stopped on the dime, but it's so in rhythm.

[Brian Windhorst]

And he's also like sort of cutting across the top of the key. It was an unusual, unusual. Not really. So I say this is, we tell it's unusual. So normally you come out after a game, even after a bad loss. Your families are out here. You don't have the world's media sitting on the court talking about your loss. That's what is happening right now. For the fun that these players are all walking out.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's great for them.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, you think so?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah. This will piss em off. They should be pissed off.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like I love that. Even when Lou Dor came out here, I low key forgot that they just lost. Cause this is insane. But as, even as I said that.

[Brian Windhorst]

He had a great game.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He did, he said great game boy. He didn't acknowledge it. Cause he's pissed off.

[Brian Windhorst]

He should be.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, as you should be. You should tear something up. Like I said. I want to go check the locker room for popcorn.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's not their ML Popcorn Gatorade. I mean, I don't know, I haven't been in there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I want to check the locker room for popcorn, Gatorade, see if there's some broken glass in there. Cause that's the locker rooms I've been in.

[Brian Windhorst]

Like didn't that happen with LeBron and.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He punched the board and oh, the whiteboard.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, that was game one. Not that I want to call up old stuff.

[Stephen A. Smith]

There's just some stuff. There's just some stuff that happens when you know, we did everything to get to that moment and we threw it away at home on the road. I promise you could live with so much. All the magical stuff. The off the glass 3. It's like, of course it's a playoff. Stay focused while you're at home. Those things happen. It's no longer the basketball guys. We did that. Like we messed up, you know what I mean? As long as they could take ownership of the loss tonight. As long as they could all look in the mirror and say, hey, we didn't lose in the last bucket, but we need to understand that we beat them on paper like we were supposed to.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I would just say that they've had some issues closing out games. Not massively, but they've had some issues closing out games. Cause they didn't play a lot of close games.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Brian Windhorst]

And there's probably going to be another close game or two in this series.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, I would love that. I would love to see.

[Brian Windhorst]

So that's the. Going to be the pressure.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But that's what you were saying before this started. Like if this is a close game, just because like you said, they battle tested, they've been here, they've done this and ironically, it looks like they like doing it.

[Brian Windhorst]

That is crazy.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It does. It looks like they enjoy this. Like I was, you know, I stayed a little longer in the back.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, me too.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because I wanted to see them when they left the floor. I wanted to see was it an excitement like.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And it wasn't.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Indiana came back there and was like, I think they, they know they got work to do. They know they didn't play well, but they are razor focused and they are so together.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's how they got here.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They are so together. But I mean, that's my first time being in the back to see it like, you know, I could, I would never let the fans see me not loving my teammates while I'm sitting on the bench.

[Brian Windhorst]

I feel you. I will just say, to win three consecutive game ones on the road, I think it's only happened four times. It just doesn't happen. And it sure as heck doesn't happen when you're hitting crazy shots at the end of games. I know they won game one in New York in overtime, but they got to the overtime with the crazy shot. This, this. We never quite see anything like this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We haven't. What, what do you, what do you say that this game does to the series, though?

[Brian Windhorst]

It introduces a whole new set of circumstances because this is a game that Thunder should have won. Because you know the Pacers are going to play a game or two where they're just going to win because they're a good team. They're going to hit threes. This is how you screw up a series. This is what happened the last round against New York. When it, when it was, when it was 3:1. That series should have been 2:2 New York. It should have been 2:2.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Then when it was 3:2, it should have been 3:2, New York. Because they gave away, game one. Now, I'm not saying that this wasn't like a giveaway, but in a series like this, you're now playing from behind, so.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, no, this was a giveaway.

[Brian Windhorst]

You think so?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't know. They didn't. They didn't play terrible.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They didn't play terrible. But in a game like this, it's coming down the stretch. You have to know we need this bucket, and then we need this stop. And now this is over. Shouldn't have got under three minutes and been that close. You got to get your stops, you get your rebounds. And if you miss two of them. If you miss two of them, who call your timeout now? If you miss two of them and you still get the rebound like they did, you call a timeout, you get everybody together, you make your next one. You walk off out of this tough, man. I know they. I know they. They kicking themselves in the foot right now.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I hope you packed for a long time, man.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, hey, listen, I got enough clothes, man. However long y' all want to keep this up, we'll be ready.

[Brian Windhorst]

Thank you for doing this. We're gonna do this after every game. I enjoyed it, man.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's do it.

[Brian Windhorst]

I thought it was going to be a blowout. We were going to have to talk about old stories, but not at all. We got new stories.

[Stephen A. Smith]

A brand new story.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Thanks for listening to Hoop Collective.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Thanks for having me.