Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault addressed his team’s narrow 111-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Despite controlling much of the game, Daigneault acknowledged the Pacers’ resilience in their 15-point fourth-quarter comeback.
“The common denominator is them,” Daigneault said of Indiana’s late rally. “That’s a really good team. They keep coming, they keep playing, they made plays, they made shots. They deserve to win by a point.”
Daigneault compared the defeat to a similar Game 1 experience against Denver. “The playoffs take you to the limit, and they put your back against the wall. The most important game in the series is always the next one. Tonight was a starting point, not an endpoint.”
The Thunder struggled defensively after halftime as the Pacers improved ball security and shot 46.2% from beyond the arc. “I thought they loosened us up a little bit,” Daigneault said. “We took like 50-some shots in the paint for only 40-some points. We’ve got to finish stronger.”
Turnovers also proved costly despite limiting Indiana’s points off them. “We want to be fast up the floor,” Daigneault noted. “I didn’t think we converted a lot of advantageous situations tonight.”
He praised Obi Toppin’s impact off the bench, particularly his three-point shooting. “Toppin shot the heck out of the ball. We have to learn from our breakdowns,” he added.
Daigneault explained the reasoning behind his lineup changes, including starting Cason Wallace to add perimeter defense. “We’ve been pretty fluid with the lineup. We’ll look at everything to give ourselves the best chance to win Game 2.”
Addressing the Pacers’ 12 points in the final two and a half minutes, Daigneault said it was “a little bit of everything.” He cited costly bonus fouls and missed offensive opportunities late. “You tip your hat to them — they made plays. This is part of their identity.”
Looking ahead, Daigneault stressed the importance of resetting. “We’ve got to get ourselves to zero, as we always do. These guys have made a habit of being able to play their best in the next game.”
Game 2 is set for Sunday night in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder aiming to even the series.
