INDIANAPOLIS: The Indiana Pacers did not let another home-court opportunity slip away Thursday night.
Not with a raucous crowd on its feet almost from start to finish, not with Reggie Miller and nearly a dozen former Pacers cheering them on and certainly not with the first NBA title in franchise just two wins away.
So the Pacers dug down, fought through injuries and finally played their way. They knocked down 3-pointers, forced turnovers and had the heavily gold-clad crowd doing high-fives between the third and fourth quarters as Indiana extended its season with a 108-91 victory over the the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The winner-take-all Game 7 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
This wasn’t just a win-or-go-home scenario for the Pacers.
They’ve been motivated all season by the bitter memories of losing their last two home games by three points each in the 2024 Eastern Conference finals as the injured Tyrese Haliburton watched helplessly from the sideline. Boston used that four-game sweep to fuel its record 18th title run.
And they blew a seven-point lead in the final 11 minutes of Game 3, giving away the home-court advantage they stole on Haliburton’s last-second winner in Game 1.
This time, it wasn’t even close.
Indiana took control midway through the second quarter and spent the rest of the night pulling away as a smattering of Oklahoma City fans watched glumly.
Sure, one difference was Haliburton’s ability to overcome the strained right calf that made him so ineffective in the Game 5 loss that put Indiana on the cusp of elimination.
But after convincing team trainers he could play and still be effective, the Pacers rebounded from missing their first eight shots to make 8 of the next 10. Then, as usual, it was off to the races.
Indiana forced 12 first-half turnovers, outscoring the Thunder 16-3 on fast break and 19-3 in bench points while using 11-0 and 6-0 to extend the margin to 64-42 at halftime. Defensively, they were even better in the second half.
Though they didn’t force as many turnovers, they held the Thunder scoreless more than five minutes while forcing seven straight misses to start the third quarter — working the crowd into a frenzy as they rolled to a 70-42 lead.
Miller flailed his arms in the air in a Jalen Rose jersey. Metta World Peace waved a towel and Lance Stephenson repeatedly pumped his fists. Even John Haliburton, Tyrese’s father, cherished the moment.
But finishing their home season with a win is only the first part of the equation. Now they must go on the road and replicate what they just did if they are to achieve their ultimate goal — winning a title.
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Thunder fans expecting to celebrate NBA title see hopes dashed
In Oklahoma City, fans who confidently flocked to the Paycom Center expecting to celebrate the Thunder’s first NBA championship on Thursday night went home facing the possibility that their team might not win the title.
Thousands of fans with high hopes filed into Oklahoma City’s home arena to watch on the big screen.
Instead, Indiana rolled to a 108-91 win, and now Thunder’s passionate fans will wait anxiously for Game 7 on Sunday in Oklahoma City.
The lower two levels at the Paycom Center were nearly filled before the tip, and the big screen was lowered for a better view. The crowd roared early when Jalen Williams dunked to give Oklahoma City an 8-2 lead.
Indiana dominated from there and led 64-42 at halftime.
Fans remained hopeful, but the energy dissipated when the Thunder failed to score for the first five minutes of the third quarter. The crowd gained some hope when Tony Bradley was called for a technical foul against Isaiah Hartenstein.
Indiana maintained control, and fans finally started to file out after Ben Sheppard hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the third to put the Pacers up 90-60. Those who stayed stood and cheered as time ran out.
It’s been a long wait for Thunder fans. The city first hosted an NBA team during the 2005-06 season, when the New Orleans Hornets relocated after Hurricane Katrina. Oklahoma City’s fans fell in love with the team and young point guard Chris Paul, who would be named rookie of the year.
The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, and Oklahoma City’s fans feverishly supported their new team despite its early struggles. The Thunder had contending teams with young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Even with all that talent, they couldn’t break through. They lost to LeBron James’ Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in 2012. Durant left for the rival Golden State Warriors in 2016. A team with Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony couldn’t get out of the first round.
The end of Oklahoma City’s misfortune seemed to have arrived this season, when the Thunder had the league’s best record. Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder put the Pacers on the brink of elimination with wins in Games 4 and 5. Now, the misery will continue if Oklahoma City doesn’t win Game 7.
