(PACERS NEWS RELEASE)
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS THUNDER (GAME 6)
After dropping Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night in Oklahoma City, the Pacers will host a do-or-die Game 6 on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With a win, Indiana would force a winner-take-all Game 7 for the NBA title on Sunday in Oklahoma City. But with a loss, the Thunder would be crowned as NBA champions on Indiana’s home floor.
Turnovers and potential injuries were the biggest concerns coming out of Indiana’s 120-109 loss to the Thunder. The Pacers coughed the ball up 23 times, which Oklahoma City converted into 32 points on Monday night. All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton also had an off night, finishing with four points (all from the free throw line), seven rebounds, six assists, and three turnovers in 34 minutes while being hampered by tightness in his right leg that briefly sent him to the locker room in the first half.
On the other end, Thunder All-Star guard Jalen Williams went off for 40 points, becoming just the ninth player in league history to score 40 or more points in an NBA Finals game while under the age of 25. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists as the duo combined to take 26 free throws.
But the Pacers return home confident in their ability to protect home court and force a Game 7. Indiana very easily could have swept a pair of Finals home games against the Thunder last week, but lost a four-point lead with three minutes remaining in Game 4. Still, the Pacers have been a tough out at home all season and expect Indiana fans to create a raucous environment for the final home game of the season.
And this is a team that has proven to be remarkably resilient all season long in the face of adversity. They know Thursday will be their stiffest test to date, but they’re embracing the opportunity.
“I think the fight is always going to be there from this group,” Haliburton said. “We’ve shown that when our backs are against the wall, we have many different guys that can chip in. We have shown that we are always going to fight.
“Going home, there’s not a better opportunity than to fight on your home floor. So that’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing a win-or-go-home game at our home…I look forward to competing, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Probable Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Thunder: G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G – Luguentz Dort, F – Jalen Williams, F – Chet Holmgren, C – Isaiah Hartenstein
Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson – out (torn achilles tendon), Jarace Walker – out (right ankle sprain)
Thunder: Nikola Topic – out (left knee surgery)
Last Meeting
June 16, 2025: The Thunder forced the Pacers into 23 turnovers and Jalen Williams scored 40 points as Oklahoma City won Game 5 on its home floor, 120-109.
Oklahoma City led by as many as 18 points in the first half before the Pacers rallied to cut the deficit to 95-93 with 8:30 remaining. But the Thunder responded with an 18-4 run to slam the door shut on Indiana’s comeback hopes.
Williams finished with 40 points, six rebounds, and four assists while going 14-for-25 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, and 9-for-12 from the free throw line. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points, 10 assists, and four blocks while going 13-for-14 from the charity stripe.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 28 points and also tallied six boards, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. Siakam was 9-for-15 from the field, 3-for-6 from 3-point range, and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
T.J. McConnell added 18 points off the bench for Indiana, scoring 13 in the third quarter to help trigger the Pacers’ rally. Aaron Nesmith (14 points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting), Myles Turner (13 points and six rebounds), and Obi Toppin (12 points and four boards) also reached double figures for the Blue & Gold.
The Thunder scored 32 points off Indiana’s 23 turnovers, while the Pacers managed just nine points off 11 Oklahoma City giveaways.
Noteworthy
The Pacers trailed 3-2 in the second round of the 2024 playoffs against New York before winning Game 6 at home and Game 7 on the road to take the series.
The Pacers’ losses in Games 4 and 5 mark Indiana’s first multi-game losing streak since the Blue & Gold dropped three straight from March 6-10.
Indiana is 36-14 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season, including a 7-3 record at home in the playoffs.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ABC – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Richard Jefferson (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
