Pacers Force Game 7: Here’s What to Expect in the Winner-Take-All Finale
The Indiana Pacers aren’t ready to pack for summer just yet — and after their emphatic Game 6 win, they’ve earned one last shot at an NBA championship.
Facing elimination Thursday night, the Pacers responded with urgency, energy, and purpose, dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Now, the 2025 NBA Finals come down to one final game — Game 7, Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
This is the moment. This is the fight the Pacers were built for.
Indiana’s Identity: Rally and Respond
If you’ve followed the Pacers this postseason, you know their story: survive and advance. From slugfests with Milwaukee and Cleveland to their comeback series against New York, Indiana has made a habit of answering the call when it matters most.
Game 6 was no different. Down 3-2 and with star Tyrese Haliburton nursing a calf injury, the Pacers looked vulnerable on paper. On the court? They looked fearless. They played like a team refusing to see its season end.
Any concern about Haliburton’s availability was erased early. The All-Star guard not only suited up — he made his presence known. He scored 14 points, dished out five assists, and gave Indiana 23 solid minutes without any visible limitations.
He even delivered the game’s signature moment: a sideline steal and a no-look assist to Pascal Siakam for a momentum-seizing dunk that sent the home crowd into a frenzy just before halftime.
Most importantly, the blowout allowed him to rest for most of the second half — an invaluable bonus heading into Game 7.
“We’ve got one game,” Haliburton said. “Nothing that happened before matters. Nothing after matters. It’s all about Sunday.”
The Bench Delivered
T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Ben Sheppard turned Game 6 into a showcase of Indiana’s depth. McConnell was relentless: 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals — pure chaos in a Pacers jersey.
Toppin led the team in scoring with 20, including four triples, and Sheppard’s buzzer-beating three at the end of the third capped a 30-point lead. When your reserves dominate this thoroughly in a Finals game, you’ve got a real shot to win it all.
Thunder Falter Under Pressure
The Thunder had a golden opportunity to close out the Finals — and they blinked. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his worst game of the series with 21 points and eight turnovers. Jalen Williams, fresh off a 40-point explosion, was limited to 16.
OKC looked a step slow all night, committing 21 turnovers and getting outscored 62-35 over the second and third quarters. A lack of urgency, uncharacteristic mistakes, and poor execution gave Indiana the door — and the Pacers kicked it wide open.
“We have to make it happen,” Holmgren said. “It’s not going to happen by accident.”
What to Expect in Game 7
Let’s be clear: the Thunder still have homecourt, the league MVP, and 68 wins in their back pocket. They’ve been one of the NBA’s most complete teams all year.
But the Pacers have momentum, belief, and now, a blueprint. If they replicate the defensive intensity, bench production, and balance they showed in Game 6 — and if Haliburton stays upright — they’re more than capable of pulling the upset.
In a Game 7, anything can happen. The stakes are total. The pressure is overwhelming. And as Haliburton put it — this is exactly where Indiana wants to be.
