NBA Finals Game 2: Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m., Sunday; TV: ABC

OKLAHOMA CITY – The only solace for the Thunder is it woke up from this nightmare before. Popped up in a cold sweat and exhaled — relieved to see another day and ultimately survive a series.

OKC’s 111-110 loss t o Indiana in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night was “eerily similar,” as Thunder guard Alex Caruso said, to OKC’s Game 1 meltdown against Denver two rounds ago.

Instead of an Aaron Gordon 3-pointer, it was a Tyrese Haliburton long 2 that did the Thunder in. Instead of Chet Holmgren missing two free throws with 10 seconds left, it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who back-ironed a 14-footer with 11 seconds that would’ve put the Thunder up three.

“Felt good,” SGA said, “didn’t go in.” Pacers' Game 1 win

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