The NBA season could reach its thrilling conclusion tonight in Indianapolis. Game 6 of the NBA Finals is set, with the Oklahoma City Thunder holding a commanding 3-2 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the best-of-seven championship series. The Pacers must win on their home court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday in Oklahoma City.
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, one more victory means hoisting the NBA championship trophy. Leading their charge is superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is on the verge of capping an almost unprecedented individual season.
SGA Chasing Rare Historical Feats
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already secured the prestigious NBA MVP award for the current season. He is also currently favored to win the NBA Finals MVP. Should the Thunder clinch the title and Gilgeous-Alexander earn the Finals MVP honor, he would be the first player since LeBron James (who accomplished the double MVP feat in back-to-back seasons, 2011-12 and 2012-13 with Miami) to win both the regular season and Finals MVP awards in the same year.
But the potential historical significance for Gilgeous-Alexander could extend even further. He is also the league’s reigning scoring champion. If the Thunder win the championship and SGA is named Finals MVP, he would join an incredibly exclusive club in NBA history. Only three players have ever won the NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, the scoring title, and a championship all in the same season:
Michael Jordan: Did it four times (1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
Shaquille O’Neal: Did it once (2000)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Did it once (1971)
Gilgeous-Alexander could become just the fourth player to achieve this remarkable combination of individual dominance and team success, cementing his place among the game’s absolute legends.
Pacers Fight for Survival Amidst Injury Concern
On the Indiana side, the focus is squarely on extending the series. To do so, they’ll need a huge performance, potentially without their key playmaker. The Pacers were awaiting crucial news regarding the availability of star guard Tyrese Haliburton for Game 6 as he deals with a strained right calf. His status remains a significant question mark hanging over Indiana’s hopes of forcing a Game 7.
A Date with History: Echoes of 2000
Adding a layer of historical intrigue to tonight’s contest, Thursday, June 19th, marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Pacers’ most recent NBA Finals appearance before this season. On June 19, 2000, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Pacers in Game 6 of the Finals. That series famously saw Shaquille O’Neal complete his own season where he won the MVP, Finals MVP, scoring title, and the championship – the very same* rare achievement combination that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is now pursuing against Indiana 25 years later. The Pacers will be acutely aware of avoiding a similar fate tonight.
With the Thunder poised to clinch and the Pacers battling for survival, possibly shorthanded, Game 6 promises high drama and the potential for NBA history to be made.
