Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning shot rightfully dominated the highlight reels following the Indiana Pacers’ shocking 111-110 comeback win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. However, it’s worth pointing out that the Pacers would have had no chance to steal the victory without Andrew Nembhard’s spectacular fourth quarter.
The 25-year-old guard finished with a decent stat line—14 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, and six assists—but that hardly captures the full extent of his impact. Nembhard spearheaded Indiana’s rally from a 15-point deficit in the final period, contributing eight points and three assists down the stretch.
When Oklahoma City pushed its lead to 94-79, it was Nembhard who answered with a three-point play to halt the run. Driving straight into the chest of Alex Caruso—arguably the Thunder’s best defender—he absorbed an immense amount of contact and converted a tough layup.
Nembhard added an even more impressive shot to his resume a few minutes later when he hit a contested three-pointer over his fellow Canadian, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Isolated against the NBA MVP, Nembhard strung together a series of crossover dribbles before launching a step-back three between the top of the key and the left wing. Not many players have the combination of skill and confidence to pull off that kind of shot in the NBA Finals and Nembhard made it clear to the world that he has both.
Beyond the shotmaking, Nembhard also served as Indiana’s primary ballhandler and facilitator down the stretch. With Haliburton tightly guarded by Oklahoma City’s defense, the responsibility fell to Nembhard to lead their offense—and he delivered. His composure and decision-making helped steer the Pacers back within striking distance of the Thunder.
These types of performances have become more common for Nembhard who was the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He scored at least 10 points in 10 of Indiana’s first 12 postseason games and tallied 14 points, eight assists, and six steals in their series-clinching win over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nembhard’s rise is one of the more overlooked storylines behind Indiana’s emergence as a legitimate title contender. There may come a time when he outgrows his current role and seeks a larger one, but for the time being, he and Haliburton are making a strong headway in the discussion on who the best backcourt is in the NBA today. The Pacers are full of hidden gems—but if they keep on playing like this, they will not stay hidden for much longer.
