You are more likely to be struck by lightning that the Pacers should not win their feedback in the playoffs
When the Indiana Pacers followed the 9 -point Oklahoma City Thunder with 2 minutes and 52 seconds to play in match 1 of the NBA final, ESPN victory probability model gave the Pacers that a chance to earn 3.6% to win.
Not only did the Pacers overcome this deficit to win 111-110 and take an advance of 1-0 in the series, it was not even the most improbable return of Indiana in this qualifying series.
The Pacers became the masters of victory at the head of the qualifying series in 2025, achieving at least one miracle each turn.
In match 5 of the Conference quarter -finals, Indiana overcome a 7 -point deficit against the Milwaukee Bucks in the last 39 seconds of extension – when the Pacers' chances were only 2.1% – and won 119-118.
In match 2 of the conference semi-finals, Indiana was only 4.1% likely to win when it followed the Cleveland horsemen of 7 with 57.1 seconds to go, but the Pacers finally won 120-119.
And in match 1 of the conference final, Indiana has achieved an unprecedented return against New York Knicks, moving 14 points with 2 minutes and 51 seconds to go to the fourth quarter before winning 138-135 in overtime – whose chances were 0.3%.
Although even winning one of these games was a highly improbable task for the Pacers, winning the four was extremely unlikely.
How exactly, exactly? Well, you would have a better chance of being struck by lightning, to start.
Here's how the four largest returns from Pacers accumulate against other rare events.
