The Indiana Pacers produced their strongest performance of the NBA Finals, dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7.
Obi Toppin led a balanced Pacers attack with 20 points, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 and Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton, playing through a calf strain, chipped in 14 points as Indiana kept its title hopes alive.
Indiana’s defense was the difference, stifling a Thunder offense that had been potent all series. Oklahoma City was limited to its lowest scoring output of the Finals, and the Pacers’ bench outplayed their counterparts throughout the night. After starting the game 0-of-8 from the field and falling behind 10-2, Indiana responded with a dominant 68-32 run, seizing control and never looking back.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points and Jalen Williams had 16, but the Thunder were outmatched from the second quarter on. Head coach Mark Daigneault emptied his bench early in the fourth quarter, with the game well out of reach.
Game 7 will take place Sunday in Oklahoma City — the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016. While home teams hold a 15-4 all-time record in Finals Game 7s, the most recent instance saw Cleveland win on the road against Golden State. Notably, one of those rare home losses came in 1978 when the Seattle SuperSonics — the franchise that eventually became the Thunder — fell in the Finals decider.
The Thunder have already shown resilience during these playoffs, erasing a 45-point deficit in the Western Conference Finals. But with momentum now on Indiana’s side, the championship hangs in the balance heading into the season’s final showdown.
