INDIANAPOLIS — A dazzling no-look assist from Tyrese Haliburton and a powerful slam from Pascal Siakam ignited the Indiana crowd with under a minute left in the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Pacers capitalized on this momentum, sealing a convincing 108-91 win on Thursday night, thus setting the stage for a decisive Game 7.
Haliburton intercepted a pass from Jalen Williams, deftly maneuvered along the sideline to stay in play, and initiated a fast break. He then delivered a no-look pass to Siakam, who emphatically dunked the ball as the audience at Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted in cheers.
“That was an incredible moment,” Haliburton remarked. “Especially since we always tease Pascal about not dunking anymore.”
The dunk extended Indiana’s lead to 20 points, and Oklahoma City was unable to bounce back.
“To be honest, Pascal and I haven’t discussed that play yet,” Haliburton stated. “I’m not sure we will until this is all over. … If we’re lucky enough to keep going and win this thing, I believe that play will stick in people’s minds for a long time.”
This sentiment encapsulated the Pacers’ attitude following their win on Thursday evening. Despite delivering what might have been their most complete performance of this surprising playoff journey, there was no inclination to celebrate.
“We’ve got one game,” Haliburton emphasized. “Just one game. Everything that happened before means nothing, and whatever is coming next doesn’t matter either.”
Indiana started the game off sluggishly, missing their first eight attempts and quickly falling behind 10-2. However, the Pacers bounced back to dominate the turnover margin 21-11, restricting the Thunder to just 91 points, their lowest total since April 2022, while receiving contributions from various players on the roster.
Obi Toppin emerged from the bench as the leading scorer with 20 points. Andrew Nembhard contributed 17 points, while Siakam added 16 points alongside 13 rebounds.
“We are incredibly resilient and driven,” Toppin remarked. “We all put in a tremendous amount of effort every single day to achieve the success we’ve had, and we’re far from finished.”
Haliburton, who was a game-time decision prior to Game 6 due to a strained right calf, showcased his determination with his performance on Thursday night. He underwent a variety of treatments to prepare, including hyperbaric chambers, needles, massages, electronic stimulation, and a compression sleeve on his calf.
He expressed confidence in his ability to play.
“I see it as wanting to compete alongside my brothers,” Haliburton explained, having finished with 14 points and five assists in just 23 minutes. “These are my teammates, and I’m ready to go to battle with them. We’ve had a remarkable year together. We share a unique bond as a team. I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a shot.”
Haliburton mentioned he advised coach Rick Carlisle to take him out of the game if he didn’t look like himself on the court. However, that wasn’t necessary, and Haliburton’s efforts were pivotal in securing another victory for the Pacers and extending their season.
“He’s incredibly valuable to our team,” Carlisle remarked. “The key point was that there was minimal drama. … He was candid. He didn’t seek the spotlight. He was doing everything he could to be in the game.”
However, following their win, Haliburton warned his teammates against getting caught up in the “narratives” as they approach Game 7.
“The narratives can be nearly toxic,” Haliburton noted. “Discussing what this means for our city, our organization, and legacy is all well and good, but we’ve performed admirably, and now the pressure shifts to [OKC]. … There will be stories we need to ignore.
“We must focus on what we can control. A lot of these games hinge on who initiates the physicality, takes better care of the ball, and secures more rebounds. Those are the critical areas we need to concentrate on. I don’t even want to say, let’s celebrate this victory tonight and move forward. It’s over now. We’ve done our part to protect our home court, and we must be prepared to battle in Game 7.”
