Starting 5, June 18: Can OKC take home title? Or will Indy force a Game 7?
in a Finals for the ages.
tips Thursday at 8:30 ET on ABC.
a champion crowned or the series extended?
June 18, 2025
Will OKC take home the title, or will Indy force a Game 7?
Inside the eye of the storm that swung Game 5
Back in their own building, the Pacers are far from finished
Eight snapshots capturing an electric night in OKC
Right corner. Right time. Ray Allen ties the Finals – 12 years ago today
Gearing up for Game 6…
Ahead of Thursday’s Game 6, both teams will hit the practice court and meet with the media today, with live coverage on the NBA App beginning at 12:30 ET.
the Thunder played their first regular-season NBA game – a loss to the Bucks in front of a sellout Oklahoma City crowd.
from that opener for the Thunder to notch their 84th win in the OKC era — a victory on Nov. 26, 2010, against the Indiana Pacers.
OKC enters Thursday’s Game 6 (8:30 ET, ABC) looking to become just the fourth team ever to win 84 games in a single season — needing one more victory over the Pacers to claim the city’s first NBA title.
With an average age of 25.6, OKC is looking to become the second-youngest team to win an NBA title – led by their two young stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
This year’s Kia MVP, Shai is posting unprecedented all-around numbers this series (32.4 pts, 4.6 reb, 5.0 ast, 2.4 stl, 1.8 blk) – a stat line unmatched by any player in the Finals since steals were first tracked in 1973-74.
Tyrese Haliburton’s followed a historic playoff run with more clutch performances in the Finals, while the Pacers have gotten boosts up and down the roster.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
has fueled Indy all season. No matter the situation or how deep the hole, the Pacers always seem to claw back – with a play-by-play record five 15+ point comebacks this postseason.
they trail in a series for the first time all Playoffs. But they’re never out — especially inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
like the Indiana Pacers. Not this postseason. Not this regular season. Not even this century.
another stunner seemed to be brewing.
the Thunder suddenly found themselves clinging to a two-point lead with 8:30 left – the building tense, the momentum shifting and the Pacers charging.
in the biggest game of its season, OKC answered with an 18-4 knockout run – a near flawless stretch of basketball and a snapshot of why it’s one win away from an NBA title.
After Jalen Williams buried a 3, Cason Wallace’s steal-and-slam pushed the lead from two to seven in just 19 seconds.
The Thunder have tallied 229 steals this postseason – the most in a single Playoff run since steals were first tracked in 1973-74. And when it mattered most, those historic hands came alive.
One of SGA’s two steals amid the run, resulting in five points the other way, including this and-1.
Those five steals came from four different defenders – SGA, Wallace, Williams and Alex Caruso – capturing OKC’s depth and collective commitment, with seven players ranked in the top 10 in DefRtg this postseason (min. 10 gp, 20 mpg).
Caruso finished the 4th quarter with a game-high +6 plus-minus – and you can see why.
OKC’s star duo stepped up – just as they have all postseason – feeding off each other for bucket after bucket as they carved up Indy’s defense.
T This SGA to JDub bucket coincided with a 10-0 stretch amid the run. OKC now has 19 10-0 runs this postseason – eight more than the next closest team.
In 3:25 minutes of gametime, the Thunder turned a two-point edge into a 16-point cushion, outscoring the Pacers 18-4 while shooting 100%, holding them to 0 field goals and forcing five turnovers.
that captured exactly who OKC is – a relentless defense paired with an explosive offense that can strike in an instant and stun opponents.
know those bursts alone won’t win them a title – not against a Pacers team that never stops swinging.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
have faced deficits that hundreds of teams before them couldn’t overcome.
stacked heavily against it, the group has often found fight within itself, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
poses the ultimate trial of such resiliency.
owns five 15+ point comebacks this postseason, including three of 7+ points in the final minute. The next contest, though, is the first time everything is on the line.
the season’s over,” said Tyrese Haliburton. “So our backs are against the wall… we’re going to have to be able to respond (and) be better – look forward to the challenge.”
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
uncertain, the Pacers may face yet another challenge. But a team approach paved the road here, after all — a trend that’s continued at the game’s highest stage.
has been an ever-valuable constant – regularly spearheading the Pacers’ effort on both ends. And the 2019 NBA champion understands these stakes.
now that we’re going into the sixth game,” said coach Rick Carlisle. “All the attention and the crowd noise in both arenas – everything. This is a lifetime opportunity.”
One win away.
OKC crowd, the Thunder struck last to take a pivotal Game 5 – moving one win shy of an NBA title.
returns to Indy, let’s relive Monday night’s showdown through eight standout snapshots.
Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
you can still hear:
puts up a 3 – won’t go. Rebound Bosh. Back out to Allen. His 3-pointer – BANG! Tie game with 5 seconds remaining!”
in the 2013 NBA Finals, trailing by three with under 20 seconds left in Game 6, the Heat’s season — and quest for back-to-back titles — teetered on the brink.
, Miami needed a miracle as LeBron James’ shot bounced off the rim.
A second chance. And a shot that changed everything.
wrestled the offensive rebound away from two Spurs, he found Ray Allen backpedaling to the right corner. Without looking down, Allen caught the pass and let it fly — drilling the game-tying 3 with 5.2 seconds left – exactly 12 years ago today.
in overtime, then sealed the title in Game 7 behind James’ 37 points. But none of it happens without Allen, who had spent years obsessively preparing for that exact shot – one that will forever live in basketball lore.
Allen reflected on the blur of the play – and the clarity of the moment:
and ‘Bron had made a 3 a little bit earlier. He had a good look at it, and I just knew, ‘Run to the basket to try to get a rebound’…
CB was standing there and he grabbed it. I was just like, ‘Get away from him and get to the 3-point line as soon as you can’…
it just seems like it… happened. In just half a second. I just got my feet ready and the ball was in the air…
in that corner. I understand always where I am … I purposefully put myself in different situations around there so I can understand my parameters around the baseline and endline…
how much it affected this whole situation. Obviously, we wouldn’t be here right now. But from the people around the world, friends I know, how everybody watched it – and how it made them feel…
because we live in a fishbowl and we don’t understand the magnificence of this situation. But it’s an amazing situation to be a part of.”
