The two best words in sports are “Game Seven”—and that’s exactly what basketball fans are in for on Sunday night when the Indiana Pacers travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
Oklahoma City has been fueled by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with major contributions from All-Star Jalen Williams.
The Pacers, meanwhile, have relied on a complete team effort. Whether it’s Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam leading the charge or a spark off the bench, one name keeps coming up: TJ McConnell.
McConnell has consistently been the engine off the bench for Indiana this postseason, and on Saturday—just over 24 hours before tip-off—he earned high praise from NBA legend and Lakers star LeBron James. Speaking during a live episode of his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash at "Fanatics Fest" in New York, James didn’t hold back.
“You look at TJ McConnell—he’s not the tallest or fastest guy, but you don’t know what he’s going to do,” James said. “He’s the key reason there’s a Game 7 tomorrow night.”
In Game 6, with the Pacers’ backs against the wall, TJ McConnell delivered a gritty performance—finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Through the series, he’s averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.
TJ McConnell
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) grabs a loose ball as Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) and guard Andrew Nembhard (2) battle for control during the third quarter in game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Indiana has also benefited from key contributions across the roster. Obi Toppin has provided energy and versatility, while Benedict Mathurin exploded for a 27-point performance in Game 3, helping secure one of the Pacers’ three wins in the series.
Still, the road ahead won’t be easy. Indiana, which stole Game 1 in Oklahoma City, will now have to finish the series on the road—facing one of the toughest environments in the league against a Thunder team that’s been the NBA’s most resilient following losses this season.