The Indiana Pacers delivered a resounding performance on their home court Thursday night, dominating the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 108-91 victory in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The decisive win ties the series at 3-3, pushing the championship battle to a dramatic winner-take-all Game 7. This marks the first time the NBA Finals have gone the distance to a seventh game since 2016.
Facing elimination at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers played with palpable desperation and controlled the game for large stretches. While the Thunder briefly held an early lead, Indiana quickly seized momentum, ignited by Andrew Nembhard. The Pacers built a significant advantage, particularly in the second quarter, where a pivotal offensive surge saw them outscore Oklahoma City by a wide margin, contributing to a halftime lead of 64-42 after closing the half on a commanding 30-9 run. The lead ballooned to as much as 31 points in a lopsided affair before the Thunder narrowed the gap late.
Balanced Attack Powers Pacers
Indiana showcased a balanced offensive attack, overcoming concerns about star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s health. Haliburton, cleared to play just hours before tip-off despite a calf injury that worsened in Game 5, contributed 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes. His impact went beyond the box score, providing energy and making crucial plays, with the team holding a plus-24 differential when he was on the court.
The Pacers’ bench provided a crucial spark and accounted for a significant scoring advantage, outscoring the Thunder’s reserves 48-37 overall, including a dominant 31 points in the fourth quarter alone. Obi Toppin led the team with 20 points off the bench, providing key scoring, while T.J. McConnell added 12 points on efficient shooting in 24 minutes, contributing hustle and igniting runs.
Other key contributors for Indiana included Andrew Nembhard, who was highly efficient with 17 points on just 7 shots, including 3 of 5 from three-point range. Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds and was highlighted for initiating crucial runs that energized the crowd. Center Myles Turner was the only Pacers starter not to reach double figures, struggling to three points.
Thunder Struggles Lead to Blowout
Conversely, the Oklahoma City Thunder struggled significantly. Their offense was stifled by the Pacers’ defense, which forced 12 first-half turnovers and 21-22 for the game, leading to 19 points off Thunder mistakes. Poor shooting plagued OKC, particularly from three-point range where they hit just 8 of 30 attempts (26.7%) and struggled early, missing 15 of their first 16 from deep. They also shot just 41% overall from the field.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points but was notably held below his series average and committed 8 turnovers. Jalen Williams added 16 points, but star big man Chet Holmgren managed only 4 points and struggled from the field (2 of 9). The Thunder were also out-rebounded, lost the battle for 50/50 balls, conceded more second-chance points, and were outrun on the fast break. By the end of the third quarter, trailing by 30, the Thunder effectively conceded the game, pulling their starters.
Winner-Take-All Game 7 Looms
With the series tied, the NBA Finals now shifts back to Oklahoma City for a decisive Game 7 on Sunday, June 22, tipping off at 7:30 PM CT at the Paycom Center. The Thunder earned home-court advantage for this pivotal matchup by virtue of their strong regular-season record.
Both the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are vying for the first NBA championship in their respective franchise histories. While hosting a Game 7 in the Finals has historically offered a significant advantage (road teams are 4-15 all-time in such scenarios), the Pacers’ authoritative Game 6 win demonstrates their capability to perform under pressure. After a back-and-forth series marked by emotional swings, the season now comes down to a single, high-stakes contest to crown the 2025 NBA champion.
