SI

Pascal Siakam, Pacers Dominate Thunder to Force Game 7 in NBA Finals

Indiana sent the series back to Oklahoma City for what will be the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016.

Tom Dierberger

Siakam scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Pacers' Game 6 win.
Siakam scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Pacers' Game 6 win. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
In this story:

There will be a Game 7.

Behind a double-double from Pascal Siakam and double-digit scoring efforts from six different players, the Indiana Pacers rolled to a 108–91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

The series is now tied at three games apiece and will advance to a winner-take-all Game 7, just the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history, and the first since 2016.

"We just wanted to protect home court. We didn't want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor," Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton said on the ABC broadcast after the game. "Backs against the wall—we just responded."

Facing elimination Thursday night, the Pacers got off to a slow start and missed their first eight attempts from the field to fall behind 10–2. But they rallied to take a three-point lead into the second quarter, and went on a furious 30–9 run over the final nine minutes of the first half to grab a commanding 22-point advantage into the break.

Siakam put an exclamation point on the Pacers' first-half rally. After Tyrese Haliburton deflected a pass on defense in the final minute of the half, Siakam caught a pass from his point guard in transition and threw down a rim-rattling poster dunk over Thunder wing Jalen Williams.

Siakam finished the night with 16 points and 13 rebounds in 32 minutes.

Haliburton, who was questionable to play in Game 6 due to calf strain, was officially ruled active just a few hours before tipoff. He rebounded nicely from a disappointing four-point effort in Game 5, scoring 14 points with five assists in 23 minutes.

"It's the Finals," Haliburton said on ABC. "All of us got to give everything we have. I give everything I have for this group and this locker room. ... My guys have had my back all year, especially tonight, and that means the world to me."

Oklahoma City committed 21 turnovers in the loss and shot just 26.7% from three-point range (8 of 30). Jalen Williams had a particularly rough night, missing all four of his attempts from downtown and finishing with a plus/minus rating of -40.

The Pacers and Thunder will meet again at 8 p.m. ET Sunday for Game 7 at Paycom Center to crown a new champion. A win for the Pacers would mark their first NBA title in franchise history, while a victory for Oklahoma City would clinch the franchise's first championship since 1979 when Dennis Johnson led the Seattle SuperSonics' triumph over the Washington Bullets in five games.

More NBA Finals on Sports Illustrated

feed

Published
Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

Home/NBA