The NBA Finals are going the distance.
For the first time since 2016, basketball’s biggest prize will be decided in a winner-takes-all Game 7 after the Indiana Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder with a commanding 108-91 victory in Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
With their season on the line, the Pacers responded with grit, depth, and determination. Obi Toppin emerged as the unexpected hero off the bench, scoring 20 points and injecting life into an Indiana squad that simply refused to let the Thunder celebrate on their home floor.
Haliburton Returns and Inspires the Team
Tyrese Haliburton, who missed Game 5 with a calf injury, returned to action and contributed 14 points, five assists, and two steals in 22 pivotal minutes. His impact went far beyond the box score.
“We just wanted to protect our court,” Haliburton said postgame. “We didn’t want to see those guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, we just responded. I’m really proud of this group.”
Thunder Struggle Early and Never Recover
The Pacers led from the outset, capitalizing on a disastrous 0-for-8 start by the Thunder, who quickly found themselves trailing by eight and never recovered. Oklahoma City’s sluggish offense was in stark contrast to Indiana’s urgency and fluidity.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s newly crowned MVP, led the Thunder with 21 points but was visibly frustrated by Indiana’s relentless defense and his team’s missed opportunities.
“Credit Indiana,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game.”
Winner-Takes-All Game Set for Monday
The Finals, which have seesawed throughout—Indiana led the series 1-0 and 2-1, while Oklahoma City rallied to take a 3-2 advantage—will now culminate in a historic Game 7 on Monday, June 23, in Oklahoma City.
This will mark just the 20th time in NBA history that the Finals reach Game 7. Of the previous 19 instances, the home team has emerged victorious 15 times—an encouraging sign for the Thunder, who dismantled Denver by 32 points in a Game 7 earlier this postseason.
Both Teams Ready for the Moment
But the Pacers won’t be fazed. Their most recent Game 7 came just last year, when they silenced Madison Square Garden with a 21-point dismantling of the Knicks. They’ve been road warriors before—and they’re ready to do it again.
“A great privilege,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “There’s nothing bigger than Game 7 in the NBA Finals. We’ll be ready.”
Everything on the Line
As the basketball world turns its eyes to Oklahoma City, one question remains: Who will rise when everything is on the line?
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