The Cardiac Kids: How the Indiana Pacers Became the NBA’s Ultimate Comeback Team
Four game-winning shots in one playoff run. Five comebacks from 15+ point deficits. A team that led Game 1 of the NBA Finals for exactly 0.3 seconds—the final 0.3 seconds. The 2025 Indiana Pacers aren’t just making history; they’re rewriting the meaning of resilience in professional sports.
When Tyrese Haliburton’s pull-up jumper swished through the net to give Indiana a stunning 111-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1, it felt both shocking and somehow inevitable. The Pacers have become basketball’s version of a horror movie villain—you can never quite kill them off, no matter how dire things look.
Heart Attack Basketball: The Numbers Behind the Nickname
The “Cardiac Kids” moniker wasn’t bestowed upon the Pacers by accident. This team has developed an almost supernatural ability to perform when their backs are against the wall:
– Five comeback wins from 15+ point deficits this postseason (most in NBA history)
– 8-1 record in clutch games during these playoffs
– Four game-winning or game-tying shots from Haliburton in the final five seconds
– Led Game 1 of the NBA Finals for just 0.3 seconds—the time it took for the final buzzer to sound after Haliburton’s shot
What makes these numbers even more remarkable is the context. In Game 1 against Oklahoma City, the Pacers committed 19 turnovers in the first half alone—the most by any team in a postseason half. They finished with 24 turnovers total, with 14 coming from Thunder steals. Oklahoma City attempted 16 more field goals.
By any statistical measure, the Pacers should have lost. And yet.
The Haliburton Factor: Ice Water in His Veins
At the center of Indiana’s comeback capability is Tyrese Haliburton, whose playoff evolution has been nothing short of remarkable. His game-winner against the Thunder was his fourth clutch shot of the postseason, placing him second all-time for such playoff heroics behind only LeBron James (who has eight).
“We all practice those shots,” Haliburton said after Game 1. “I work on my game constantly, visualizing these moments. When they come, I’m ready.”
Haliburton’s calm demeanor masks an intensely competitive fire. Despite finishing Game 1 with a relatively modest line of 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, his impact transcends the box score. He’s mastered the art of the moment—knowing exactly when to assert himself.
“We take slights personally,” Haliburton explained. “People counted us out all year. Down 15? That’s just another opportunity to prove everyone wrong.”
The Carlisle Effect: Championship Experience as a Secret Weapon
While this incarnation of the Pacers lacks extensive playoff experience as a unit, they have a significant advantage in head coach Rick Carlisle. The 2011 championship-winning coach has brought a steady hand to Indiana’s chaos, installing both tactical flexibility and psychological resilience.
“Experience in clutch situations matters,” Carlisle said after the Game 1 comeback. “We’ve been in tough spots throughout this playoff run. Our guys understand that games are never over until they’re over.”
Carlisle’s strategy centers around maintaining aggression while keeping composure—a delicate balance that has allowed the Pacers to effectively pressure opponents and capitalize on mistakes, even when trailing by significant margins.
The coach’s influence is perhaps most evident in how the Pacers adapted after their turnover-plagued first half against Oklahoma City. Rather than abandoning their identity, they refined it—still playing fast but with more precision, finishing 10-for-16 on corner threes and executing their offensive sets with renewed focus.
A History of Persistence: Building the Comeback Identity
The Pacers’ resilience didn’t materialize overnight. Their playoff journey has featured a series of improbable victories that gradually solidified their identity as comeback specialists:
Against the Knicks in the second round, they overcame a 19-point deficit to steal Game 1 on the road, stunning the Madison Square Garden crowd. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they twice rallied from 16+ point holes against Boston, including the series-clinching Game 6 where they outscored the Celtics 35-18 in the fourth quarter.
With each comeback, the team’s belief in their ability to overcome any obstacle has strengthened. By the time they reached the Finals, the Pacers had developed what Andrew Nembhard called “comeback muscle memory.”
“We’ve been here before,” Nembhard said. “Down big in the fourth quarter? That’s when we’re most comfortable now. It’s weird to say, but it’s true.”
The Egalitarian Approach: Strength in Numbers
Unlike many contenders built around multiple superstars, the Pacers have embraced a more democratic approach to scoring and playmaking. In Game 1 of the Finals, six different Pacers reached double figures—marking the 7th time on the road during these playoffs that all five starters scored 10+ points.
This balanced attack makes them particularly dangerous when mounting comebacks. Opposing defenses can’t simply focus on stopping one primary threat, as different Pacers have proven capable of delivering in crucial moments.
Myles Turner, who has spent his entire career in Indiana through rebuilds and retooling, sees this as the team’s greatest strength.
“When we need a bucket, it could come from anyone,” Turner explained. “Tyrese hit the game-winner, but Andrew [Nembhard] hit huge threes before that. Pascal [Siakam] made key defensive stops. Everyone contributes in different ways when we need it most.”
The Mental Edge: Never Believing They’re Out of It
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Pacers’ comeback capability is their unwavering belief, regardless of the score or situation. This psychological edge manifests in tangible ways during games.
“We never change our body language,” Haliburton noted. “You won’t see us hanging our heads or arguing with each other when we’re down. That sends a message to the other team—these guys still think they can win.”
This mentality creates a snowball effect. As the Pacers chip away at leads, opponents often tighten up, becoming more conservative in their approach. In Game 1, the Thunder’s 15-point advantage evaporated as they managed just two points in the final three minutes while the Pacers executed a 12-2 run to close the game.
Rick Carlisle has observed this pattern throughout the playoffs: “Teams start looking at the scoreboard, playing not to lose instead of playing to win. That’s when we pounce.”
Writing Their Own History
For a franchise with a proud history but no NBA championships, these Pacers are carving out their own legacy. The lineage from Reggie Miller’s clutch performances to the gritty Paul George-led teams to today’s “Cardiac Kids” represents a through line of resilience in Indiana basketball culture.
“This team embodies what Indiana basketball has always been about,” Carlisle said. “Toughness, togetherness, never giving up. The difference is, this group has taken it to another level.”
As the Finals continue, the question inevitably shifts from “Can the Pacers come back again?” to “Should we even call them comebacks anymore?” When something happens with such regularity, it ceases to be surprising and starts becoming identity.
For the Thunder and the rest of the NBA, the warning is clear: no lead is safe against these Pacers. For fans in Indiana and basketball enthusiasts everywhere, the message is equally evident: don’t change the channel, don’t leave early, and whatever you do, don’t count out the Cardiac Kids until the final buzzer sounds.
Because as Game 1 proved once again, with this Indiana team, the most important part of the game might be the last 0.3 seconds.