The Moment That Shifted Everything Tyrese Haliburton

With less than a minute to go in the first half of Game 6, the roof nearly came off Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tyrese Haliburton, still nursing a strained calf, intercepted a careless pass from Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams. Carefully dancing along the sideline to keep the ball in bounds, Haliburton launched a no-look pass into the paint. There, like a freight train, Pascal Siakam rose up and slammed it down with two hands. The roar from the crowd wasn’t just a reaction to a highlight—it was the sound of belief.

That play put the Indiana Pacers up by 20. And from that moment on, it was clear: Game 6 wasn’t going to be close.

The Pacers, with their backs against the wall and their season hanging in the balance, put together their most convincing performance of the entire postseason, rolling past the Oklahoma City Thunder 109-91 to force a decisive Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals.

A Championship-Level Response

The Pacers have been a story of resilience all season long, but Thursday night’s performance added another chapter to their incredible narrative. After falling behind 10-2 due to a cold shooting start—missing their first eight shots—they didn’t panic. They regrouped. They rallied. And once they found their rhythm, they never looked back.

The turning point came not from a star player, but from a collective effort. Obi Toppin, often the forgotten man on Indiana’s bench, exploded for 20 points to lead the team in scoring. Andrew Nembhard, the ever-reliable guard, chipped in with 17. Siakam was everywhere—finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds—and made plays on both ends of the floor.

It was a complete team effort. Defense, effort, hustle, and heart—everything a team needs to survive and advance in the Finals.

Haliburton’s Heroic Return

Haliburton wasn’t even supposed to play a full game. The star guard had been listed as questionable up until game day due to a lingering right calf strain. But with Indiana facing elimination, there was no way he was going to sit this one out.

To get ready, Haliburton underwent an intense and exhaustive recovery regimen. From hyperbaric chambers and massage therapy to acupuncture, electric stimulation, and compression sleeves—he did everything possible to be able to suit up.

And suit up he did.

“I just look at it as I want to be out there to compete with my brothers,” Haliburton said after the win. “These are guys that I’m willing to go to war with.”

He played only 23 minutes but was impactful in every second, scoring 14 points and dishing five assists. More than the numbers, it was his presence that lifted the team—his confidence, his leadership, and his energy radiated across the floor.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Haliburton gave him full permission to pull him if he didn’t look right. But that never became necessary.

“He didn’t want the drama. He didn’t want the spotlight,” Carlisle said. “He just wanted to help us win.”

Indiana’s Defensive Statement

The Pacers didn’t just outscore the Thunder—they smothered them. Oklahoma City, a team that had looked unstoppable at times this postseason, was held to just 91 points—their lowest total in over three years.

Indiana forced 21 turnovers and consistently disrupted OKC’s offensive flow. The usual stars for the Thunder struggled. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced swarming coverage and lacked the usual space he thrives on. The Pacers’ perimeter defenders stayed active, contesting every look and jumping every passing lane.

It was a performance reminiscent of old-school basketball: tough, physical, unrelenting. The kind of game where defense wins, and hustle reigns supreme.

Siakam’s Slam: A Symbol of the Series

Pascal Siakam’s thunderous dunk just before halftime didn’t just give Indiana a 20-point lead—it symbolized their spirit. This team has been doubted, downplayed, and overlooked, but they’ve never quit. That play was more than two points—it was a message to OKC and the basketball world: the Pacers are here, and they’re not going away quietly.

Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t even talked to Siakam about that play yet. “I don’t know if we will until this is over,” he said. “But if we go on and win this thing, I think that play will be remembered for a long time.”

In a series full of drama and shifting momentum, that moment might be the one that changes everything.

One Game Left, Nothing Else Matters

As impressive as Game 6 was, the Pacers know their work isn’t done. They aren’t basking in the glow of Thursday’s win. Instead, they’re locked in—focused entirely on the challenge that lies ahead: Game 7 in Oklahoma City.

“Nothing that’s happened before matters. Nothing that’s going to happen after matters,” Haliburton said. “We’ve got one game.”

The Pacers aren’t buying into the headlines or the hype. They’re not concerned with narratives about legacies, city pride, or underdog dreams. They’re keeping it simple—focus on defense, take care of the ball, rebound, and be the more physical team.

“The narratives are going to be almost poison,” Haliburton warned. “There’s going to be talk about what this means for the city, for our legacy, for the organization. But we can’t get caught up in that.”

Obi Toppin echoed that mindset. “We’re not done,” he said. “We’re hungry.”

OKC Faces the Pressure Now

For the Thunder, the loss was a rude awakening. After holding a 3-2 lead, they entered Game 6 with the chance to close out their first Finals appearance in over a decade. Instead, they were outworked, outplayed, and overwhelmed.

They now return home for Game 7 with everything on the line—and all the pressure.

Indiana has shifted the momentum, and now it’s OKC that must respond. The Thunder will need to regroup quickly, refocus, and find answers. Because the Pacers are coming with everything they’ve got.

Source: Pacers force winner-take-all, rout OKC in Game 6 of NBA Finals

A Historic Game 7 Awaits

For the first time since 2016, the NBA Finals will go the distance. A Game 7. A one-game championship. Winner takes all.

For the Pacers, it’s a chance to complete an improbable run—a chance to win their first title in franchise history. For the Thunder, it’s a shot at redemption and validation for a young, rising squad.

The stakes couldn’t be higher.

Game 7 will be more than a basketball game. It will be a battle of will, grit, and execution. A test of who wants it more.

And if Game 6 was any indication, the Indiana Pacers are more than ready.