The Indiana Pacers crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 on June 20, forcing a Game 7. Behind a huge third quarter and a heroic Tyrese Haliburton, the series is tied 3-3.
StatPro NBA Beat Reporter
With their season on the line and the prospect of watching a championship celebration on their home court, the Indiana Pacers didn't just respond—they roared. In a dominant, do-or-die performance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers dismantled the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals. The series is tied 3-3, and Indiana's championship dream is very much alive.
We didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall and we just responded. … Total team effort.
The game was a tight affair for two quarters, but the Pacers emerged from the locker room a different team. They unleashed a ferocious 31-18 third-quarter run that blew the roof off the Fieldhouse and left the Thunder reeling. It was a masterclass in two-way basketball, with crisp ball movement on offense leading to open looks and a swarming, connected defense that held OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 21 points for the game. The Pacers turned a nail-biter into a rout, showcasing the grit that has defined their playoff run.
Just playing was a victory in itself. After being severely limited by a right calf strain in Game 5, Tyrese Haliburton's status was the biggest question mark heading into Friday. He answered it emphatically. Though he played just 23 minutes, his impact was immeasurable. Haliburton's court vision and timely buckets sparked crucial runs, and his mere presence energized his teammates and the home crowd. Finishing with 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals, he proved that even a hobbled Haliburton is a game-changing force.
This victory was the definition of a team effort. While Haliburton provided the emotional lift, the box score tells a story of incredible balance. Obi Toppin was a flamethrower off the bench, leading all Pacers with 20 points, including four huge three-pointers. Andrew Nembhard was a steadying force with 17 points, while Pascal Siakam was a monster on the glass, posting a crucial double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Four players in double figures, suffocating team defense—that's the formula that sends a series to Game 7.
For the first time since 2016, the NBA Finals will be decided by a single game. As Coach Rick Carlisle called it, this is 'the ultimate game.' For a Pacers team that started the season 10-15 and has battled back from deficits all postseason, this is familiar territory. They've thrived with their backs against the wall. Now, they travel to Oklahoma City with a chance to silence the road crowd and bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Indiana for the very first time.
And so, it all comes down to this. One game. Forty-eight minutes in Oklahoma City to decide it all. The Pacers have stared into the abyss and didn't blink. They've shown resilience all season, and now they are one win away from basketball immortality. Get ready, Pacers Nation. Sunday night isn't just a game; it's for the franchise's first-ever NBA Championship. It's the ultimate game.
