Tyrese Haliburton Inspires, Pacers’ Defense Swarms, Indiana Forces Game 7

The Oklahoma City Thunder raced out to a 10-2 lead. What came next was the Indiana Pacers’ refusal to let the visitors even think about holding a championship coronation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

After not making a field goal until the eight-minute mark in the opening frame, the hosts caught fire. They outscored their guests 24-15 from that point until the buzzer blew at the period’s conclusion.

That set the tone for a second-quarter haymaker. Indiana put 36 points on the board. Oklahoma City mustered less than half of that [17].

By halftime, concerns about Tyrese Haliburton’s calf strain converted to admiration. Once the Pacers’ star guard found his rhythm, it became impossible for the Thunder to get him out of his groove.

Haliburton danced his way to three-point makes from well beyond the arc. He was a fearless facilitator, firing bold passes to produce points for his teammates. And he refused to let his calf strain impede his commitment at the defensive end.

The two-time All-NBA selection finished with 14 points, five assists, and two steals. His +25 plus-minus rating was second to teammate Aaron Nesmith, a +27.

“It’s the Finals,” Haliburton replied when asked about the resolve he showed in Game 6 in his on-court interview post-game with ESPN’s Lisa Salters. “It’s the Finals. All of us got to give everything we have. I’ll give everything I have for this group and this locker room. So, [I]

just try to come out here and play to the best of my ability. My guys have had my back all year, and especially tonight, and that means the world to me.”

As for how his calf felt in the immediate aftermath of Indiana’s 108-91 victory:

“It’s ok. It’s ok,” Haliburton told Lisa Salters. “[We’ve]

got a couple [of] days now to take care of it, get it right and be ready. We’ve got one game, all cards on the table; it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Pacers’ swarming defense propels Indiana to Game 7

Tyrese Haliburton’s performance was inspirational. What Indiana’s defense did was suffocating.

With the hosts’ season on the line, they used that desperation as a jetpack. The Pacers flew around defensively. Every time Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thought he gained an edge on his primary defender, another one was there to ensure nothing came of it.

The league MVP finished with eight turnovers. That’s the most he’s had in a playoff game. It matches the most he’s had in his career. It’s a testament to the job Andrew Nembhard did and the help provided by his teammates.

Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t the only member of the visitors who struggled to take care of the ball. Oklahoma City finished with 21 turnovers. That led to 19 points for Indiana.

Much of that damage came in the first half as the Pacers expanded the gap on the scoreboard. The Thunder entered intermission with 12 giveaways. That led to 16 points for Thursday’s victors, who had a 22-point advantage at the break.

“The turnovers in the first half, that’s uncharacteristic for us to turn it over like that,” said Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault after the loss. “That led to fast-break points. I thought that’s what ignited them. A lot of it was an offensive issue tonight, especially in the first half. I thought we were really stagnant.”

The situation worsened in the third quarter. Understanding what was at stake, the Pacers kept their foot on the gas. They followed the blueprint from the first half to grow their lead to 30 entering the final frame.

For the hosts, a 90-60 edge represented a seemingly insurmountable advantage with 12 minutes remaining. For the Thunder, it was the fewest points they’ve scored through three quarters this season.

It’s time to turn the page

The Thunder went 35-6 at home this season, the best mark in the NBA. They’re 10-2 at the Paycom Center in the playoffs. They also have history on their side entering Sunday’s contest with the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the line.

Road teams are 4-15 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The last visitor to prevail in that situation was the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. The LeBron James chase-down block on Andre Iguodala and Kyrie Irving’s side-step three from the right wing that propelled Cleveland are indelible moments in the league’s history.

That 73-win Golden State Warriors team James’ Cavaliers went through was historic. The Pacers will also have to topple a giant, albeit one just rising to power.

“You’ve got to flush this one,” T.J. McConnell told NBATV after the victory. “Obviously, happy that we won, and we’ll look at the film and see what we did well. But Game 7, especially on the road, is a whole different animal. And we’ve got to be locked in on both ends and just be super together because we’re all we’re going to have on the road.”

“One game, this is what it’s all about. This is what you dream about growing up, this kind of opportunity,” said Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle as his team readies for Sunday. “The opportunity to play in a game like this is a great honor and a great privilege.”

As for Oklahoma City, like home dominance, the ability to bounce back after a loss is one of the team’s hallmarks. The Thunder are 18-2 after a defeat in the regular or postseason this year.

It also helps to have already experienced a Game 7. That’s what advancing past the Denver Nuggets, a prideful former champion, required. Perhaps there’s something from that trial they can call on with the stakes at their highest.

“The way we felt in that series was, it’s a 3-3 series, 0-0, you have one game to advance, and the better team will win,” conveyed Gilgeous-Alexander post-game. “And I think it’s the exact same thing. Everything that’s happened in this series, you try to learn from, and you try to put it all together for one night and see where it takes you.”

Oklahoma City’s star guard also shared his perspective about what’s to come on Sunday.

As for his head coach’s outlook: “We have the same opportunity Indiana does on Sunday,” said Daigneault at the podium post-game. “The score will be 0-0 when the ball goes up in the air. It’s a privilege to play in Game 7s. It’s a privilege to play in the Finals.

“As disappointing as tonight was, we’re grateful for the opportunity. And we put in a lot of work this season to be able to play that game at home, which is exciting, to be able to do it in front of our fans. So, obviously, [we’re] disappointed tonight, but we’ll regroup. Get back to zero. Learn from it with clear eyes, like we always do. Get ourselves as ready as we can be to play Game 7 on Sunday.”

Like the Thunder, the Pacers know what they have to hang their hat on.

“It’s about the margins,” stressed Haliburton. “It’s about taking care of the ball and rebounding. Those are the most important things. You’ve got to control the controllables and let the cards fall where they may.

“It’s a one-game series now, and we believe. We’ve got a lot of faith in this group. So, take care of our bodies, get ready, and Game 7 NBA Finals, what more can you ask for?”