Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both had strong games in the NBA Finals opener.
In the early chase for the NBA Finals MVP, shots have been fired. One missed, the other connected, both in the final seconds of Game 1, Pacers vs. Thunder.
The difference on the final scoreboard was one point, and the difference on this first installment of the Finals MVP Ladder is one spot, separating the player who made the shot and the one who missed — Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Those two were the pre-Finals favorites to be in hot contention, and such has proven to be the case. Haliburton and Gilgeous-Alexander put their teams in position to win and that’s all anyone can ask of an MVP contender.
The difference between this MVP Ladder and the regular season version is obvious — there’s little time to recover or savor. It’s a best-of-seven sprint, not a six-month marathon. The situation can flip suddenly, like, in the very next game.
Let that serve as a warning to Haliburton and the Pacers and some reassurance for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.
Setting the Game 2 stage: OKC lost only six times at home during the regular season and once in this postseason. Is it possible to lose two straight at Paycom Center in this series? That’s the task for Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, the three Pacers on this list, as if winning Game 1 in a shocker wasn’t enough.
The stat to know: Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38 points were the third-most in an NBA Finals debut, after Allen Iverson’s 48 in 2001 and George Mikan’s 42 in 1949.
What they are saying: “Some players will say they have it, but there’s other players that show it, and he’s going to let you know about it, too. That’s one of the things I respect about him. He’s a baller and a hooper and really just a gamer.” — Pacers center Myles Turner on Haliburton.
1. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton drains the game-winning bucket in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Game 1 stats: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
His case: He made The Shot. That’s it. And that’s all he needed to do to lead this list, because nothing else mattered. Haliburton saw another chance to be a hero and once again gravitated to the moment and became bigger than it.
For much of the game, he was otherwise mild, but such is Haliburton’s pattern at times. He’s not a volume scorer; he’s a playmaker. He’s also more dangerous as a set-up man, a pass-first point guard who involves teammates and helps raise their confidence. Then, when the time is right, Haliburton gets the ball. And he usually makes it count.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishes with 38 points in Game 1 vs. the Pacers.
Game 1 stats: 38 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
His case: Had Haliburton missed That Shot, Gilgeous-Alexander would’ve elevated on this list. Yes, his 18-footer moments before caught the back rim, setting up Haliburton’s heroics. Much like his teammates, he didn’t finish the task. But until then, Gilgeous-Alexander was a blizzard with the ball in this contest and the only consistent source of offense for OKC.
The Pacers still must figure him out in this series. That was Indiana’s primary defensive goal when the Finals began, and nothing changed in Game 1. If Gilgeous-Alexander is efficient, then he’s a problem. If not, then the Indiana game plan is working.
3. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Pascal Siakam provided a steady presence for the Pacers, notching a double-double in the Game 1 win.
Game 1 stats: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
His case: He was impactful in multiple areas — on the glass, defensively and as the first option offensively. Yes, when the Pacers looked for a bucket, Siakam’s number was called. He also helped Indy claim a decisive rebounding advantage (56-39), which was somewhat surprising against an OKC team with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
If anything, one of the key moments went against him when his hustle after a loose ball in the final seconds was ruled out and coach Rick Carlisle’s challenge was overruled. Of course, what happened next was in his favor: Gilgeous-Alexander’s missed shot, followed by Haliburton’s make.
4. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Game 1 stats: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals
His case: He perfectly fit the 3-and-D definition in the opener of this series when he aced both assignments. He shot 5-for-9 from deep. He was a constant pest defensively with four steals. The Pacers couldn’t leave him alone beyond the 3-point line, and he refused to leave Pacers ballhandlers alone by going for the strip.
Dort is a long shot for this award, but if he somehow pulls it off, he’d become the first non-drafted player to do so. Quite impressive for the longest-tenured OKC player who has constantly beaten the odds — and continues to defy them.
5. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers
Game 1 stats: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
His case: If nothing else, he can stash a pair of fourth-quarter comeback highlights from Game 1 and put them in his vault. First was his iso on Gilgeous-Alexander, when he shook loose from his teammate on the Canadian national team with a few tricky dribbles, then sank the 3-pointer with two minutes left.
Then second: He made Gilgeous-Alexander work on the OKC’s guard’s fateful miss by staying in front, not fouling, and forcing Gilgeous-Alexander to attempt a fadeaway jumper. Nembhard’s defense against Gilgeous-Alexander will be a critical issue in this series, and if the Kia MVP labors heavily, then Nembhard’s value and place on this ladder will soar. It’s not unlike the assignment that former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala had in those Warriors-Cavaliers clashes when assigned to LeBron James.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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