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.

So … what exactly happened here, and what does it mean going forward? That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out ever since I staggered out of Paycom Center late Thursday in the wake of the Indiana Pacers’ stunning 111-110 comeback win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the mentality of both the the Pacers and Thunder as the tied series heads back to Indy for Game 3 and 4.