The NBA Finals just got even more intense. What seemed like it might be a done deal has now turned into a nail-biting showdown.
The Indiana Pacers have officially evened things up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now we’re headed for a do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday night.
Pacers Come Alive in Must-Win Game
Despite star guard Tyrese Haliburton still nursing a nagging calf injury, Indiana came out on Thursday night with a fire they hadn’t shown in previous games.
They absolutely overwhelmed the Thunder at home with a dominant 108-91 win, making it clear they weren’t ready to see their season end just yet.
This wasn’t just a close call. The Pacers made it a statement game.
Siakam and Haliburton Lead the Charge
Pascal Siakam brought his A-game, putting up a solid 16 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
Haliburton, even with that calf problem, managed to contribute 14 points.
After a shaky start, Indiana kicked things into gear and never looked back.
What’s remarkable is how quickly the game shifted.
The Pacers were ice-cold early—missing their first eight shots and falling behind 10-2.
But once they found their rhythm, they took complete control.
Thunder Crumble Under Pressure
On the other side, Oklahoma City struggled to respond. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points, and Jalen Williams added 16, but it wasn’t enough.
By the time the Thunder trailed by 30 heading into the fourth quarter, their starters were already benched.
The team tried to shake things up by starting Alex Caruso instead of Isaiah Hartenstein after halftime. It didn’t help.
The third quarter opened with a long, scoreless drought—neither team could find the basket for nearly four minutes, missing 13 straight combined shots.
TJ McConnell Makes His Presence Felt
One of Indiana’s most impactful players didn’t even start. TJ McConnell came off the bench and brought energy when it was needed most.
He tallied 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists—yet again proving he’s one of the most reliable sparks off the bench in this series.
Home-Court History Favors the Thunder
As the series heads back to Oklahoma for Sunday’s Game 7, the odds lean slightly in the Thunder’s favor—at least historically.
In NBA Finals history, home teams have won 15 of the 19 Game 7s. But that stat isn’t bulletproof.
The most recent Game 7, back in 2016, saw Cleveland stun Golden State on their own floor.
And one of the few other times a home team lost? That was in 1978—by the Seattle SuperSonics, the same franchise that would eventually become… you guessed it—the Oklahoma City Thunder.
One Final Game to Decide It All
Sunday night will be the first Game 7 in an NBA Finals since that iconic Cavaliers-Warriors matchup.
With everything on the line, both teams will be looking to leave it all out on the floor.
Will Indiana ride this momentum all the way to a title, or will Oklahoma City bounce back at home and seal the deal?
Either way, fans are in for a dramatic finish. Game 7 is set—and anything can happen.