Pacers Force Game 7 in NBA Finals with Win Over Thunder
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers battled to a 108-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, thanks in part to Obi Toppin’s 20 points and Andrew Nembhard’s 17. This win takes the NBA Finals to a thrilling Game 7.
Pascal Siakam contributed with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton, despite playing through a tight calf, added 14 points to the mix as the Pacers gradually took control of the game.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with 21 points, with Jalen Williams chipping in 16.
Game 7, the first in the NBA Finals since 2016, is set for Sunday night in Oklahoma City. On a positive note for the Thunder, the home team has a commendable record of 15-4 in deciding games.
However, it’s worth noting that the Thunder faced some setbacks: Cleveland’s recent Game 7 victory against Golden State marks a notorious loss for home teams in the history of NBA Finals games.
The Pacers started off slowly, missing their first eight shots and finding themselves down 10-2. The arena buzzed with excitement initially, but that quickly quieted. Jalen Rose and Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who watched from the sidelines, appeared more anxious than usual.
Ultimately, after a rough start, Indiana outperformed Oklahoma City with a impressive 68-32 run over the next two quarters. The Pacers, who hadn’t previously enjoyed a double-digit lead in the Finals, reached a 28-point advantage early in the third quarter.
The margin eventually grew to 31, marking the second-largest deficit for the Thunder this season, following their 45-point loss to Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals.
Clearly, the Thunder need to rediscover their winning tactics heading into Game 7. They even switched up their strategy, starting Alex Caruso in the second half instead of Isaiah Hartenstein in hopes of reigniting their performance. Yet, neither team found success right away, with a prolonged scoring drought lasting over three minutes after halftime.
TJ McConnell was a significant contributor off the bench for Indiana, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, providing the spark that his team needed to propel them forward.
