The Indiana Pacers, uniting to support their injured star Tyrese Haliburton, triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 108-91, setting up a crucial Game 7 in the NBA Finals.
Haliburton, who was authorized to play just hours before the game despite a right calf injury, contributed 14 points, five assists, and two steals in an impressive team performance.
“We wanted to defend our home court,” Haliburton expressed on Thursday. “We didn’t want to witness them celebrating a championship on our turf.”
“With our backs against the wall, we responded,” he continued. “So many players made contributions; it was a complete team effort. I’m very proud of this group.”
Obi Toppin was the top scorer for the Pacers, netting 20 points from the bench, as Indiana’s substitutes outpaced Oklahoma City’s bench 48-37.
Andrew Nembhard contributed 17 points while Pascal Siakam added 16 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Pacers, who faced elimination after losing the last two games, tie the championship series at three wins each.
Haliburton, who was determined to play after struggling through most of Game 5, showed minimal signs of his injury as the Pacers took command during the second quarter and never relinquished it.
Indiana held a 22-point lead at halftime, stretching it to a massive 31 points early in the fourth quarter.
“We knew we would be going home if we didn’t give it our all and leave everything on the court,” stated T.J. McConnell, who added 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists off the bench for Indiana.
“I’m very pleased and proud, but we must move on because we have another game on Sunday,” he added.
Thunder looking for solutions before Game 7
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, topped the Thunder’s scoring with 21 points but also committed eight of the team’s 21 turnovers.
He missed his only three-point shot, while Jalen Williams, who had a standout 40-point game in Game 5, failed to make any of his four attempts from beyond the arc, finishing with 16 points.
The Thunder, who had an impressive 68 wins in the regular season, ended up pulling their starters after trailing by 30 points at the start of the fourth quarter.
Now, they are searching for answers as the series heads back to Oklahoma City for the final championship game on Sunday—the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016.
The Thunder seek their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, having clinched the championship in 1979 when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
In contrast, the Pacers are aiming for their first NBA championship. They won American Basketball Association (ABA) titles in 1970, 1972, and 1973 before merging with the NBA in 1976.
Pacers gather momentum
“We have just one game to go,” Haliburton said. “All bets are off. It’s going to be exciting.”
For a brief moment, it seemed like the Thunder might claim the title easily.
The Pacers missed their first eight shots and quickly found themselves down by eight points. However, they regained their composure, hitting six consecutive shots and taking the lead with a three-pointer from Nembhard midway through the first quarter.
Indiana ramped up the intensity with a couple of three-pointers, including one from Haliburton—his first basket of the night—to extend their lead to nine points.
After ending the first quarter with a three-point lead, the Pacers exploded in the second quarter, increasing their intensity on both ends to secure a 64-42 halftime advantage.
In the final minute of the first half, Haliburton made a steal and found Siakam with a behind-the-back pass for a spectacular dunk.
Siakam then scored with a turnaround jumper just before the halftime buzzer.
Toppin praised Haliburton as “a warrior,” but Haliburton emphasized that the win was a result of the team’s collective effort.
“It’s the finals,” Haliburton stated. “We all need to give it our all.”
