Hobbled Hero or Heartbreak? Pacers Fight for Survival as Thunder Eye Glory in Epic Game 6 Showdown
With the NBA Finals on the line, all eyes will be on Indiana Thursday night for a pivotal Game 6 showdown between the Thunder and Pacers. For Oklahoma City, the stakes are clear: win, and they claim their first championship since relocating; lose, and they’ll be staring down a Game 7 with everything on the line. But for Indiana, the situation is even more precarious — their offensive engine, Tyrese Haliburton, remains hobbled by injury, and his availability looms as the defining variable in this do-or-die contest.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault says his team is preparing as though Haliburton will play — a wise approach, given how the Pacers have remained competitive by dialing up their defense and keeping MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander under pressure. Indiana’s strategy has been to disrupt OKC’s rhythm by denying passing lanes, applying relentless full-court pressure, and daring Gilgeous-Alexander to beat them alone. So far, it’s worked well enough to keep things close, especially with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren struggling to contribute consistently on offense.
This isn’t uncharted territory for Indiana. Just last year, they trailed 3-2 to the Knicks in the second round and responded with a blowout at home in Game 6, followed by a historic Game 7 performance at Madison Square Garden. That run gave them belief — and a blueprint.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have seen eerie parallels between this series and that Knicks clash: early dominance, road stumbles, then clawing back control. They’re hoping history doesn’t repeat. If Haliburton can’t go — or can’t be himself — Oklahoma City could finally slam the door shut. But if Indiana finds one more gear, we might just be headed for a spectacular Game 7 finish.
