Indiana Pacers force Game 7 with dominant win over Oklahoma City Thunder
Indiana Pacers breathed new life into the NBA Finals, storming past the Oklahoma City Thunder 108–91 in Game 6 to level the series at 3–3 and set up a dramatic winner-takes-all Game 7 on Sunday.
Backed by a raucous home crowd in Indianapolis, the Pacers delivered a performance for the ages — one that saw them surge to a commanding 31-point lead in the third quarter, the largest margin in this year’s Finals. The spark came from unexpected heroes: Obi Toppin led the way with 20 points, while Andrew Nembhard chipped in 17, draining key three-pointers in tandem with floor general T.J. McConnell to break the game wide open.
It didn’t start smoothly for Indiana. The Pacers missed their first eight field goals and quickly fell behind 2–10. But from that rocky beginning came a stunning response — a 68–32 run over the next 24 minutes that left the Thunder reeling. Off the bench, McConnell was nothing short of sensational, contributing 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, becoming the engine that powered Indiana’s resurgence.
All eyes were also on team leader Tyrese Haliburton, who played through a lingering calf injury to post 14 crucial points. On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points but struggled to find rhythm against Indiana’s intense defensive pressure.
Game 7 now heads back to Oklahoma City, where history favours the home team — hosts have won 15 of the previous 19 Finals Game 7s. But these Pacers, gritty and fearless, have already rewritten expectations. One more upset, and they’ll etch their names into NBA lore.
