The Oklahoma City Thunder said all the right things before Game 6 of the NBA Finals. They knew they were one win away from the NBA championship, but they couldn’t get ahead of themselves. They knew Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was uncertain due to an injured right calf, but they prepared as if he’d play and expected his squad to compete nonetheless.
“One thing we know is you don’t underestimate great players,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters on Wednesday. “So, if he plays, we want him to throw his best punch. Indiana is an excellent team. We do not overlook excellent teams. In either situation, whether he plays or not, we expect Indiana to provide its best punch, particularly at home.”
The Finals had followed the same pattern as OKC’s second-round series against the Denver Nuggets: a painful defeat in the opener, followed by a comeback win, a loss on the road, and then two straight triumphs to lead 3-2. The series lasted seven games, but wing Jalen Williams says they learned a lesson after losing the sixth.
“We didn’t come out ready to play, frankly,” Williams remarked on Wednesday. “And sustaining our energy through that series, we’re going to try to do a little bit better with this one.”
Pacers Bring Relentless Energy in Must-Win Game
So much for it. With the season on the line, Indiana dominated the Thunder on Thursday.
The Pacers led by as many as 31 points in their 108-91 victory, setting up a winner-take-all situation for Sunday in overpowering form. Indiana went on a 24-7 run in the first quarter, followed by a 36-9 run that lasted most of the second quarter and most of the third. At one point, the Pacers recorded 11 straight stops, prompting Daigneault to request two timeouts in under a minute.
I’m not sure if the Thunder unconsciously pulled their foot off the throttle, but I know Indiana kept to their plan.
“I think we’ve got to stop turning the ball over as much, that’s the main thing,” guard Andrew Nembhard said Wednesday.
Coach Rick Carlisle agreed, noting that Oklahoma City’s offensive rebounding had been “really bothersome and challenging for us.” In the first three-quarters of Thursday’s game (the competitive period), the Pacers committed only two live-ball turnovers (compared to the Thunder’s 12) and allowed only three offensive rebounds.
“It’s about the margins,” Haliburton explained in his final interview with ABC’s Lisa Salters. “It all comes down to ball control and rebounding. “Those are the most important things.”
To earn such a lopsided victory, Indiana needed to destroy Oklahoma City in almost every manner. Through three quarters, the Thunder shot 3 for 20 (15%) from three-point range, while the Pacers went 14 for 35 (40%). Indiana led 31-6 in bench points and 21-6 in assists. Overall, however, this series has been about possession and the ability to convert defence into offence. Oklahoma City is a historically significant squad by any statistical standard.
However, if it is compelled to play against a predetermined defence repeatedly — whereas its opponent is not — it becomes weak.
Following the game, the Thunder were left to lament their turnovers, much as Indiana had done three days prior.
“I thought that’s what ignited them,” Daigneault added, calling it an “uncharacteristic” and “disappointing” performance.
The Pacers raced off makes and misses, just like they had all season. After scoring some early points in transition, their enthusiasm increased in the halfcourt. Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso praised them for being active and aggressive but claimed that the Thunder “played into their hands” by attempting to go one-on-one too frequently. The disparity between the two teams’ ball movement and shot profiles has been evident throughout the series, but never more so than in Game 6.
With alums including Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Derrick McKey, Dale Davis, Mark Jackson, Lance Stephenson, and Metta World Peace in the building, Indiana cleaned up its act and gave the best Pacers performance possible. Despite his injury, Haliburton hit deep threes and every hit-ahead pass he could. Pascal Siakam did a lot of everything. T.J. McConnell got into the paint at will and hit a slew of his signature midrange jumpers. On one end, Nembhard gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander everything he could manage, while on the other, it appeared that neither Nembhard nor Obi Toppin could fail.
“I think we played to exhaustion,” McConnell remarked. “But we have to do it again on Sunday.”
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