Patryk Stachowiak
Indiana dismantles Oklahoma City in Game 6, setting up a historic, winner-take-all finale
“We’re going to Game 7, baby!” Zaza Pachulia’s legendary phrase couldn’t be more fitting. The Indiana Pacers blew out the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, forcing the first decisive Game 7 in nearly a decade. The last time the Finals went the distance? 2016 — when LeBron James led the Cavaliers past the 73-win Warriors.
2024/25United States
Oklahoma City Thunder
Indiana PacersIt didn’t start pretty. Indiana missed its first eight shots. But once they found their rhythm, they erupted. A 36-17 second quarter blitz put them up 22 at the half. By the time Ben Sheppard drained a buzzer-beating triple to end the third, the Pacers led by 30. The fourth was pure garbage time.
Haliburton’s Light Load, McConnell’s Heroics
With Tyrese Haliburton playing limited minutes (14 pts, 5 ast in 22 minutes) due to a lingering calf strain, the spotlight shifted to backup point guard T.J. McConnell. He delivered big time: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. More than numbers, he was the engine — setting the tone, dictating pace, and igniting the crowd.
“He brought the juice,” said Obi Toppin. “He’s been doing that all series.”
Across the Finals, McConnell is averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 steals — all while playing fewer than 20 minutes per game. His impact has been undeniable. No, he won’t win Finals MVP, but he’s been the Pacers’ heartbeat.
Turnover Battle Flipped on Its Head
Before Game 6, the Thunder had been the masters of chaos — their playoff-leading 17.7% forced turnover rate set them apart. The Pacers, though fast-paced, were disciplined. That clash of styles defined the series.
In Game 1, OKC forced 25 turnovers but still lost. Across the first five games, Indiana was coughing it up nearly 19 times a night. But in Game 6? That all changed. The Pacers limited themselves to just 10 turnovers while forcing OKC into 21 — their worst showing of the playoffs.
Rick Carlisle put it best: “We were stronger with the ball.” Pascal Siakam added, “Two hands on everything. That was the mindset.” The result? A +9 turnover differential and 19 points off turnovers — almost exactly the winning margin.
Why This Game 7 Matters
Forget the last few underwhelming Finals. This series has delivered. Since Haliburton’s buzzer-beater in Game 1, the matchup has been tense, unpredictable, and full of momentum swings. And now, with the title on the line in a one-game showdown, it enters rare air.
Only eight NBA Finals in the last 50 years have gone to Game 7. Sunday night in Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. ET will mark the ninth. The stakes? Everything. The legacy? Still unwritten.
“We’ve got one game. Nothing before or after matters,” Haliburton said postgame. It’s the kind of mindset champions are made of.
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