Pacers Win Game 6, force a Game 7 on Sunday night
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Thursday evening was a special night for a special team to put a bow on the home portion of a special season. It was Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and the Indiana Pacers took care of business against the Oklahoma City Thunder by a final score of 108-91. The Pacers lived to see another day, and have forced a Game 7 in OKC on Sunday night.
“When we made a mistake, we bounced back well,” said Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle. “That’s what you have to do at this stage.”
Tyrese Haliburton was questionable with an injury (calf strain) that would typically sideline any player for multiple weeks during the season. Since it’s the Finals, Haliburton wanted to do whatever it took to play in this game.
The Pacers’ star put together a very solid performance with 14 points, five assists, and two steals in just 23 minutes on the court. His team built a huge lead in the 2nd Half, which allowed Haliburton to rest. It was the perfect scenario for the Pacers, all things considered.
“He did amazing today,” said teammate Obi Toppin. “He’s a soldier. He’s not gonna let a little injury hold him back. He’s helped us get to this point, and he’s gonna keep going until he can’t.”
Obi Toppin was a solider himself in Game 6, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds off the bench. Time and time again, this Pacers team has different heroes on different nights. They have now had eight different players score 200+ points in this Playoff run, which has never been accomplished in NBA history.
Every time the Pacers are doubted, they respond. They’ve been the underdogs for months, with very few experts giving them a chance, especially against Oklahoma City. And yet here they are, once again, pushing the limits of what everyone was thought possible. The Thunder have won 83 total games this season. They went 29-1 during the regular season against the Eastern Conference. They have gone 3-3 in a six game stretch just three times all season long. And these Indiana Pacers have pushed them to a winner-take-tall game for the Championship on Sunday night.
“It’s one game,” said Carlisle. “It’s the ultimate game. This is what you dream about. At this point, any talk about things in the past are meaningless.”
Haliburton agreed: “We’ve got one game. Nothing that’s happened before matters. The narratives are gonna be almost poison. We’ve got to control what we can. There’s nothing like a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. I dreamed about being in this situation my entire life. We worked our tails off to get here. Let the cards fall where they may.”
The Pacers know the challenge that lies ahead. The Oklahoma City Thunder are a completely different team on their home floor. Their net rating at home is currently the best in history for a playoff run. And yet, the Pacers have done it before in Game One. When it’s a Game 7, anything can happen. Will the Pacers shoot the lights out like Game 7 at the Garden? Will the Thunder finally play a little tight, even in front of their home fans? Did the Pacers figure something out defensively in Game 6, or will OKC counter that approach on Sunday? No matter what happens, the Pacers have given themselves the opportunity of a lifetime. One game to determine a champion.
One thing is abundantly clear: The Pacers belong.
The only question remains: Can they do it one more time?
