The Indiana Pacers host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is at 8:30PM ET. Oklahoma City leads the series 3-2 and can win their first NBA title with a win in Indianapolis.
Indiana will try to stay alive and force a Game 7. The Thunder won Game 5 by a score of 120-109. The Pacers are dealing with injury concerns, especially with Tyrese Haliburton, who has struggled since hurting his calf earlier in the series.
Pacers Preview – Pressure on the Whole Roster
Indiana is 50-32 in the regular season and 36-14 at home. They’ve leaned on their depth during the playoffs, especially when Haliburton is limited. In Game 5, Pascal Siakam led the way with 28 points while Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin played key roles.
Haliburton’s injury continues to be a factor. He played 34 minutes in Game 5 but finished with just 4 points on 0-for-6 shooting. The Pacers are expected to rely more on team play, just like they did when they overcame a 3-2 deficit against the Knicks earlier this postseason.
Indiana will need better defense to slow down the Thunder. They are allowing 114.8 points per game, which ranks 20th in the league. They’ve done well in late-game situations, hitting the 4th quarter moneyline in 45 of their last 68 games.
Thunder Preview – SGA and Jalen Williams Take Control
Oklahoma City finished the regular season 68-14 and has been strong all playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have combined for 133 points over the last three games. Williams had a 40-point night in Game 5, taking advantage of Indiana’s help defense on SGA.
The Thunder are efficient on both ends. They lead the league in steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. They are averaging 119.3 points per game and shoot 47.6% from the field, both top-10 marks in the league.
Oklahoma City has been a strong bet all season, covering the spread in 52 of their last 84 games. They are 45-8 at home but also 37-12 on the road, which makes them a tough opponent even in Indiana. They can close out the series with another fast start and solid finish.
Betting Prediction
The Thunder are listed as 6.5-point road favorites with the total set at 221.5. Oklahoma City has covered four of the five games in this series. Indiana’s best performance came in Game 3, but they’ve struggled to keep pace since Haliburton’s injury.
Oklahoma City should finish the job here. With Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander both playing at a high level, and Haliburton not fully healthy, the Thunder have the edge. Look for a final score around 116-106 in favor of OKC, covering the spread and securing the title.
Pick: Thunder -6.5
