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OKLAHOMA CITY—The Indiana Pacers, anxiously awaiting a decision from the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, N.J., discussed their offensive strategy for when they regained possession against the Oklahoma City Thunder, whether trailing by one or three points.
What was conspicuously absent from their discussions was a plan on how to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, who had already tallied 38 points in his inaugural NBA Finals game. Perhaps there was no need to go into specifics.
In the end, Indiana’s challenge regarding whether the ball went out of bounds off Oklahoma City or whether Thunder guard Cason Wallace fouled Pascal Siakam was turned down. Still, the Pacers remained composed in their effort to limit Gilgeous-Alexander’s access to the basket.
Enter Drew.
Andrew Nembhard, for those less acquainted with the Pacers.
“I have complete faith in him,” Haliburton said of Nembhard following Indiana’s thrilling 111-110 victory, marking their seventh win in nine playoff games on the road this season. Haliburton’s game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds remaining—his fourth clutch basket in the playoffs—secured Game 1. However, it was Nembhard’s efforts that kept them afloat, akin to a stellar goalie in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Nembhard embodies the spirit of this team. There’s little concern over who scores or when it happens. Some evenings, Aaron Nesmith lights it up at Madison Square Garden. Other nights, Siakam showcases his skills as a top-tier player. Currently, Haliburton is proving to be the best finisher in the game. The ball finds whoever is open and in a rhythm.
What they prioritize greatly, however, is defense. Nembhard has consistently ranked among the league’s elite on-ball defenders for much of the last two seasons.
“He’s our go-to,” Haliburton remarked. “He’s been our guy all year. If it weren’t for the 65-game rule, he’d be an All-Defensive selection, no doubt. Our trust in him is immense. Shai is the most challenging player to guard in the NBA. There isn’t a single defensive strategy that will be effective every time against him. We rely on Drew in those moments. We provide help when we can, but he’s taken on a lot of the tough assignments for years. That’s his hallmark in the league, and he’s an outstanding defender.”
Gilgeous-Alexander encountered a variety of defenders on Thursday, as is standard for a player of his immense talent. He faced Nesmith, Haliburton, and Siakam throughout the game. Yet, when the game hung in the balance—despite Indiana fumbling the ball with 24 turnovers—Rick Carlisle entrusted Nembhard, his 25-year-old guard, to take on the responsibility, just as he has since inserting Nembhard and Nesmith into the starting lineup alongside Haliburton and Myles Turner shortly after Christmas 2023. (Jalen Smith was the fifth starter then, but that changed once the Pacers acquired Siakam from the Toronto Raptors a few weeks later.)
There was no double-teaming. Indiana largely opted against double-teaming Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the game. Most of the time, it was simply Nembhard, SGA’s teammate on the Canadian national team. They’ve known and competed against each other since childhood.
But never before with a championship at stake.
Nesmith positioned himself at the nail, prepared to assist if SGA attempted to drive right. But Nembhard was left to handle things alone.
Gilgeous-Alexander drove left, attempting to evade Nembhard. Yet, Nembhard absorbed the contact, standing firm against SGA. When Gilgeous-Alexander spun right, a maneuver he’s executed with great success this season to draw fouls and reach the free-throw line, Nembhard thwarted him again, swatting at the ball just as SGA attempted a 15-foot fadeaway—normally a frequent success for him. On this night, however, he missed. Nesmith secured the rebound after fending off OKC’s Lu Dort, who had dominated the offensive boards.
Less than ten seconds later, the Springtime Killer Haliburton delivered his fourth game-winning shot of the playoffs, sealing the victory with mere seconds remaining on the clock. Postgame, Haliburton garnered most of the media attention, with reporters waiting a considerable time for him. In contrast, Nembhard exited the Pacers’ locker room in about three minutes after a brief Q&A session.
“I’m not sure what the deficit was, but we honestly felt like we were right there,” he shared with reporters afterward.
However, his performance resonated with profound impact.
“If there’s anyone we want guarding in that final possession, it’s Drew,” asserted Pacers guard T.J. McConnell.
It was a fitting end to an impressive night for Nembhard, who also contributed eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a pivotal step-back three-pointer over Gilgeous-Alexander with 1:59 left, cutting Indiana’s deficit to three at 108-105. He had the ball in his hands almost as often as Haliburton in the closing moments, assisting Turner on a timely three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter. His efforts were crucial in helping Indiana overcome a 15-point deficit in the fourth.
“He made significant plays on both ends of the court,” Carlisle noted. “The crucial stop against Shai at the end was monumental, followed by the rebound. That step-back three was a key momentum shift… there were many crucial contributions. You need playmakers against Oklahoma City, as they present a complex defensive challenge.”
The Pacers are riding a remarkable wave of momentum—though it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves. The Thunder posted a record of 68-14 in the regular season, tying the 1972-73 Boston Celtics for the sixth-best record in NBA history. Four of the five teams that outperformed OKC and Boston in the regular season advanced to win championships; however, the remarkable 73-9 Golden State Warriors from 2015-16 fell short in the finals against Cleveland. There is a reason OKC was touted as the dominant favorite heading into these finals. This was merely Game 1 of the series.
Yet, Indiana consistently disregards circumstances like these. The Pacers exhibited resilience, even when struggling during the first half. The packed Paycom Center crowd was deafening throughout the night. The Thunder’s defense operated at its highest level of the season, playing among the best in NBA history. While Indiana couldn’t completely shut down Gilgeous-Alexander—who still scored 38 points—he required 30 attempts to achieve that total. He missed some open shots and encountered fewer open looks than usual, particularly as he executed his extensive array of offensive maneuvers.
And with the game on the line, Drew was there to challenge him. The Pacers showed their mettle.
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David Aldridge is a senior columnist for The Athletic, boasting nearly three decades of experience covering the NBA and other sports for networks such as Turner and ESPN, as well as the Washington Post. He received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Legacy Award from the National Association of Black Journalists in 2016. He resides in Washington, D.C. Follow David on Twitter @davidaldridgedc.
