In a pivotal moment for the Indiana Pacers, the team has once again demonstrated their resilience and ability to defy expectations. With their season on the line, the Pacers forced a winner-take-all Game 7 in the NBA Finals by convincingly defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 on Thursday night. This victory marks the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016, set to take place on Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
Pacer's standout player Obi Toppin led the charge with 20 points, while Andrew Nembhard contributed 17 points. Pascal Siakam also played a crucial role, notching 16 points and securing 13 rebounds. Despite entering the game with a strained calf, Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points to the Pacers' total. Although Indiana started slowly and found themselves trailing early, they quickly turned the game around, gaining control and methodically extending their lead.
The narrative of Game 6 echoed the storyline of Indiana’s entire season. The Pacers began their regular season poorly, suffering 15 losses in their first 25 games. However, they showcased an incredible tenacity throughout the playoffs, overcoming deficits of 15 points or more five times. Now, just one win stands between them and an NBA title.
“We just wanted to protect home court,” Haliburton remarked on the team’s determination. “We didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, and we just responded... Total team effort.” TJ McConnell proved to be a vital spark off the bench, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists for the Pacers.
On the opposing side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 16 points. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged Indiana's performance, saying, “Credit Indiana. They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game.”
As the teams prepare for the decisive Game 7, the historical context favors the Thunder, with home teams boasting a 15-4 record in finals Game 7s. However, the Thunder also face the weight of a recent home-team loss; the most recent Finals Game 7 saw Cleveland winning at Golden State, and one of the three home-team losses occurred in 1978 when Seattle, now the Oklahoma City franchise, lost.
The game started poorly for Indiana, as they missed their first eight shots and fell behind 10-2. The atmosphere in the arena shifted quickly from excitement to tension. Legendary Pacer Reggie Miller, who was courtside sporting a Jalen Rose Pacers jersey, was visibly anxious. But the anxiety was short-lived, as the Pacers rallied and outscored the Thunder 68-32 over the next 24 minutes.
Throughout the game, Indiana demonstrated remarkable resilience, taking a commanding 28-point lead early in the third quarter and eventually extending the margin to 31, which stands as Oklahoma City's second-largest deficit of the season. The Thunder had previously experienced a much larger defeat, suffering a 45-point loss to Minnesota in the Western Conference finals. Interestingly, they rallied from that loss to win the series and will need to leverage that comeback spirit once again.
In an effort to revitalize the team, Daigneault experimented with his lineup, placing Alex Caruso into the starting position at the half, parting ways with Isaiah Hartenstein. Unfortunately for the Thunder, this change did not yield the desired effect, as neither team could find the basket for the first 3:53 of the third quarter, combining for a dismal 13 missed shots.
As the game progressed, the outcome ceased to be in doubt, with the Pacers firmly in control. Fans can anticipate the thrilling Game 7, which will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from Oklahoma City.
