OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — For the Indiana Pacers, a chance at being perfect in Games 1 and 2 of these playoffs went awry.

They’ll have to settle for a mere split of the opening two games in the NBA Finals instead.

The Pacers’ bid to become the fifth team in NBA history to go 8-0 to open the four playoff rounds — sweeping Games 1 and 2 in all four series — was stopped on Sunday night by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder took control early and won Game 2 123-107, tying the championship matchup at a game apiece.

“Any time you’re the lower seed in a playoff series, you know your job is to go split or go try to get one on the road," Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. "We got Game 1, you know, but it felt like we really let the rope slip there in the second quarter.”

That they did: A 19-2

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