The Indiana Pacers have done the unthinkable. Facing elimination and a red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder squad, the Pacers delivered a wire-to-wire 108–91 victory in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, sending the series to a decisive Game 7 for the first time since 2016.
After missing their first eight shots of the game, the Pacers erupted with a 36–17 second quarter that flipped the script and electrified the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. By halftime, Indiana led by 22. By the end of the third quarter, the lead had ballooned to 30. The Thunder never recovered.
It was a complete team effort. Obi Toppin led all scorers with 20 points off the bench, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 and Pascal Siakam posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. T.J. McConnell was everywhere—12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a performance that earned him high praise from teammates and fans alike.
After a rough Game 5 and questions about his availability due to a calf strain, Tyrese Haliburton returned to the starting lineup and looked sharp. He played just 23 minutes—thanks to the blowout—but still tallied 14 points and 5 assists, setting the tone early with crisp ball movement and vocal leadership.
“We didn’t want to watch them celebrate in our house,” Haliburton said postgame. “We owed it to ourselves and our fans to fight back.”
The Thunder, who had looked poised to close out the series after a dominant Game 5, were flat from the jump. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 21 points but committed a playoff career-high 8 turnovers, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren struggled to find rhythm. The team shot just 8-of-30 from three and finished with a season-low 91 points.
Head coach Mark Daigneault pulled his starters early in the fourth, opting to regroup for Game 7 rather than chase a miracle.
The Finals now shift back to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday night. It will be the NBA’s first Finals Game 7 since LeBron James and the Cavaliers stunned the 73-win Warriors in 2016.
For Indiana, it’s a chance to win the franchise’s first NBA championship. For OKC, it’s a shot at redemption and a title that’s eluded them since the franchise moved from Seattle.
