With their season on the line, the Indiana Pacers needed a win tonight to avoid elimination and force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. With the support of their home crowd and the presence of stars like Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers managed to pull through with a resounding victory (108-91) to pull within one win of a championship.
The Pacers won every quarter of the game, but it's the second frame where they set themselves apart, outscoring the Thunder by 19 points (17-36) to take full control. Obi Toppin stepped up as the MVP of the night with 20 points, six rebounds, and two steals on 50.0% shooting. As he's playing through a calf injury, Tyrese Haliburton still managed to put up a respectable stat line of 14 points, one rebound, and five assists on 41.7% shooting. The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 46.7% shooting.
This series has been truly amazing to witness, and it's featured some elite-level basketball from both teams. Going into Game 7, nobody is sure what to expect, but fans but this marks the first time since 2016 that the outcome of the season has come down to one single game.
"This year’s Finals being the one to produce the first game 7 since 2016 is the perfect lick back on everyone who said this was gonna be a terrible series," wrote a fan on X.
What makes tonight's results even crazier is that they came when the Pacers were at their lowest point. Coming off two straight losses and an injury to their main star, many critics counted them out in the series. They've proven them wrong so far.
"I appreciate the Pacers giving us something to look forward to on Sunday night," wrote one fan. "What a performance."
Whether you love or hate the Pacers, they certainly have the fans a show tonight, and their relentless fighting spirit has given us all the ultimate gift of one more game before the season is said and done.
"No matter what happens the Pacers brought aura back to the NBA finals and saved basketball," a fan posted after Game 6.
While the Pacers may not be the most glamorous or accomplished NBA franchise, their display of teamwork and focus throughout the playoffs has been great to watch and has brought a lot of excitement to the game.
"Pacers just outplayed us pretty much every single way. Offense looked very game four-like, the road shooting struggles showed up again," wrote a Thunder fan on X.. "Pacers forcing turnovers, winning the rebounding battle, shooting lights out, playing decisive, physical. They’ve just gotta bounce back at home to win a title. They have every time, and they will again."
While the Thunder will have one more chance to win (on their home court), they let a critical opportunity slip tonight that could come back to haunt them. Ultimately, they were outplayed and outworked when it mattered the most, and they can't make the same mistake again if they want to come out on top in this series.
The NBA champion will be crowned on Sunday, for whoever wins the historic Game 7 showdown. With both teams seemingly equal in skill, talent, and willpower, it's going to be an intense battle this weekend, but it will be well worth it for whichever team comes out victorious and marks their place in NBA history.
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