**Thunder Stumble in Game 1: Key Adjustments Needed for Game 2 Against Pacers**

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly fell to the Indiana Pacers, losing 111-110, despite holding double-digit leads throughout much of the game. The postgame atmosphere was one of dejection and introspection as players attempted to make sense of the loss. "Honestly," admitted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, "I'm not too sure." Teammate Isaiah Hartenstein reflected a similar sentiment, stating, "It wasn't like they won the game, but I feel like we lost the game." Jalen Williams summed up the collective frustration: "I mean, it sucks. I don't know."

Reviewing the game tape will show that Oklahoma City had many positive moments. They forced 25 turnovers and dominated points in the paint (46-34) and transition scoring. Yet despite these strengths, they managed to score just 11 points off the turnovers they forced. The Thunder also struggled on the boards, being outrebounded 43-29, and were outpaced by Indiana in shooting efficiency from both the floor (47.6%) and the three-point line (46.2%).

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the Pacers' resilience, stating, "That's a really good team. They just play with a great spirit, they keep coming, they made plays, made shots. They deserved to win by a point." However, Daigneault knows improvements must start within his team. The Thunder saw promising defensive pressure, forcing 19 turnovers in the first half but capitalizing minimally.

"We created so many turnovers. That's something you can hang your hat on," Alex Caruso noted, but emphasized the need for more aggressive transition play following these defensive stands. Scoring efficiency from close range is another area needing improvement; the Thunder shot 47.6% on attempts within five feet but dropped to 27.3% from five to nine feet.

Coach Daigneault also mentioned potential changes in execution near the basket: "I thought we were a little sloppy on some gathers... Some of them we didn't finish, which is part of the game." The Thunder had already experimented with their lineup by starting Cason Wallace over Hartenstein to better contend with Indiana's smaller lineup, but this too presented mixed results. The Pacers exploited mismatches in the paint with Pascal Siakam and were highly effective from beyond the arc, shooting 10 of 16 from corner threes.

Gilgeous-Alexander had a statistically strong game with 38 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but his scoring efficiency waned in the fourth quarter where he finished with a minus-9 rating. His former Canada basketball teammate, Andrew Nembhard, made a crucial defensive stop in the final moments of the game.

Despite the disappointment, the Thunder aren't hitting the panic button just yet. "We lost Game 1. We've lost Game 1 before," said Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder previously dropped Game 1 in the conference semifinals but came back to win the next game by 43 points. The emphasis now, according to Gilgeous-Alexander, is on learning and moving forward.

Oklahoma City remains wary of their opponent's tenacity, having witnessed the Pacers pull off surprising victories against top teams like the Bucks and Cavaliers. Now, feeling the sting of a hard-fought loss, the Thunder are determined to bounce back and avoid another setback.