3 Things That Stood Out From Thunder’s Preseason Win Over Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves in a hole Tuesday night, trailing the Indiana Pacers by 20 points and for a team that has built their identity around defense and forcing opponents into uncomfortable situations, the Thunder weren’t playing like themselves early on. But once they started applying pressure, the game changed in a hurry.

Oklahoma City fought their way back to earn a 114-112 preseason win over Indiana, showing the kind of resilience that has become a trademark of this team. The comeback was a reminder of how quickly the Thunder can flip a game with their defense, while Jared McCain continued to show off his scoring ability. 

The night also featured a meaningful return for Tyrese Haliburton, who was back in Oklahoma City for the first time since suffering a devastating injury in the 2025 NBA Finals.

The Thunder’s defensive pressure was the biggest reason they were able to turn things around. When Indiana built their lead, Oklahoma City struggled to slow the Pacers down. But the Thunder never completely backed off, and once they became more aggressive, Indiana started having trouble taking care of the basketball.

Oklahoma City finished with 14 steals and forced 28 turnovers, creating the extra possessions they needed to get back into the game. The Thunder began jumping passing lanes, making life difficult for Indiana’s ball handlers and turning defensive stops into opportunities on the other end.

That ability to change the momentum is what makes Oklahoma City so dangerous. The Thunder don’t always need to shoot their way out of a deficit. Sometimes, a few defensive stops and a couple of turnovers are enough to get the energy going and put pressure back on the opponent. The 20-point hole was a reminder that there is still work to do, but the response showed how quickly this group can get back to playing its style of basketball.

McCain gave Oklahoma City another reason to feel good about their young talent. The third year guard has a quick release and the confidence to shoot whenever he gets an opening. When he starts knocking down shots, he can get hot in a hurry, giving the Thunder another perimeter threat who can provide offense without needing to dominate the ball.

That could become really valuable as Oklahoma City figures out their rotation for the regular season. The Thunder already have established players who can create their own shots, but having someone who can come in and change the game with his shooting gives the coaching staff another option. McCain will still need to prove he can defend consistently enough to earn regular minutes every single night, but his ability to catch fire offensively is hard to ignore.

While the Thunder were celebrating the comeback, Haliburton’s return was another important part of the night. His last appearance in Oklahoma City came during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, when he tore his Achilles tendon with a championship on the line. The Pacers went on to lose that game, and Haliburton faced a long road back after one of the most difficult moments of his career.

Tuesday marked his return to the city where that injury happened, and he made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 24 points. After missing the entire 2025-26 season, getting back on the court and producing at that level was an encouraging sign for the Indiana star.

Haliburton deserves credit for the work it took to return. Achilles injuries require a tremendous amount of patience and rehabilitation, and getting back to playing at a high level is no small accomplishment. The Thunder got the win, but Haliburton’s performance was worth recognizing in its own right.

For Oklahoma City, the comeback was another example of how its defensive identity can change a game. McCain showed why his shooting could become a useful weapon, and Haliburton provided a reminder that some moments are bigger than the final score. 

It was a preseason game, but there was plenty to take away from a night that started with the Thunder in trouble and ended with Oklahoma City finding a way to win.