The 2025 NBA Finals are headed to a decisive Game 7.
With their season on the line, the Indiana Pacers delivered one of their best performances of the playoffs, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 108 to 91 on Thursday night to even the series at three games apiece. From the opening tip, Indiana’s energy, ball movement, and suffocating defense set the tone and never let up.
Here is how the Pacers flipped the series in Game 6 and what it means heading into a winner-take-all finale.
Defensive Identity Restored
Indiana’s defense set the tone from the opening quarter. The Pacers forced 21 Thunder turnovers while committing just 10 themselves, a complete reversal from Game 5, when Oklahoma City won the turnover battle 22 to 11. Indiana also dominated the hustle stats, finishing with 16 steals and 5 blocks compared to just 4 steals and 4 blocks from the Thunder.
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both dominant in Game 5, were held in check. Williams followed up his 40-point performance with just 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting, finishing with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and a minus 40 plus-minus. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting but struggled to assert himself throughout the night and ended with a minus 17 impact.
The Thunder’s supporting cast also faltered. Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace were largely ineffective, and the team’s 91-point output was the lowest any opponent has scored against the Pacers this season. Indiana’s defensive urgency reached another level with the Finals hanging in the balance.
Haliburton Leads the Charge
The blowout allowed Indiana to limit the minutes of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is nursing a strained right calf. He played just 23 minutes but looked more aggressive and confident than in Game 5. After scoring only 4 points and failing to record a field goal in the previous game, Haliburton responded with 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals on 5 of 12 shooting.
With Haliburton back in rhythm, the Pacers returned to their identity, including quick ball movement, pace, and balanced scoring. TJ McConnell was everywhere, finishing with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Andrew Nembhard chipped in 17 points on 5 of 7 shooting along with 3 steals and 4 assists. Obi Toppin led the team in scoring with 20 points and added 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
Pascal Siakam contributed 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists. On a night where rebounding was difficult across the board, Siakam’s game high 13 boards and McConnell’s surprising 9 were crucial.
Through six games of the Finals, Siakam is averaging 19.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4 assists. If Indiana pulls off the win on Sunday, he is the frontrunner for Finals MVP.
Game 7 on the Horizon
The series returns to Oklahoma City for a decisive Game 7. Both teams have posted dominant wins throughout the series, and momentum has swung wildly from game to game. Neither side has fully solved the other, making this final matchup nearly impossible to predict.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams are expected to respond with urgency. Playing at home, the Thunder will likely look to increase tempo, force turnovers, and feed off their energized crowd. If they can create fast-break opportunities and dictate pace, Indiana could be in trouble.
But if the Pacers protect the ball, keep the offense flowing through Haliburton, and get contributions from their deep rotation, they are more than capable of stealing one on the road.
Game 7 is truly up for grabs. As Gilgeous-Alexander said in his postgame press conference, “The better team will win.”
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