No lead is safe when you're playing the Indiana Pacers. The Milwaukee Bucks learned this when they were facing off against the Pacers in the first round of these playoffs, and it's a lesson that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks also painfully picked up on. The OKC Thunder are the latest team to fall victim to the resilient Pacers' efforts.
The Pacers keep taking down leads of all sizes
In Game 5 of the first round, the Milwaukee Bucks had a 20-point cushion in the second quarter. It felt like they had the game locked down if they kept their foot on the gas, but they slowly started to unravel as it went on. Not only did the Pacers force overtime, but they managed to win the game even though the Bucks were up seven with 40 seconds to play.
The Pacers don't quit, and they will capitalize on teams' mistakes. OKC learned that the hard way in a devastating Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals.
Despite trailing by 15 points early in the fourth quarter, the Pacers never wavered. They turned up the intensity on defense, holding the Thunder to 7-of-19 shooting, including 0-of-5 from long distance, while shooting the lights out themselves, going 12-of-24 with six 3-pointers. As he did against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyrese Haliburton stole the show down the stretch to give his team a victory.
Just like when the Milwaukee Bucks blew their lead in Game 5, it almost didn't feel real to witness OKC lose Game 1 after the early dominance they displayed. However, that's how the Pacers get teams. A slow start is nothing to them because they know they can claw back into any game. Every single team they've played in the postseason has seen it, and none have been able to overcome it yet.
Only time will tell if the Thunder have what it takes to overcome the Pacers' consistent late heroics. Any chance they have depends on their ability to avoid mistakes. They can't turn it over. They can't settle for bad shots. They have to be on their toes defensively. If they slip up in any of those regards, the Pacers will find a way to capitalize on those mistakes and use them to stay in the game.
It's unheard of what they've been doing these NBA Playoffs.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.