By TIM REYNOLDS
OKLAHOMA CITY— It began with 30 groups, most of them pretty optimistic about their possibilities when the season started eight months and 1,320 video games and 35,543 3-pointers and 299,608 factors in the past.
Solely two groups stay. For one recreation. Sport 7.
The NBA season ends Sunday night time when the Indiana Pacers go to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to determine which crew will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, take over for the Boston Celtics as champions and develop into the league’s seventh totally different title winner within the final seven years. It’s the primary winner-take-all recreation within the NBA since 2016, when Cleveland beat Golden State.
“I’m very much looking forward to Game 7,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “The last time we’ve had one of these in the finals, I think, was ’16. These are special moments certainly for both teams but for our league, for the game, for the worldwide interest in the game. It’s a time to celebrate.”
Sure, however just one crew will have fun Sunday night time.
For the Pacers, it will be a primary NBA title and the capper to a season that began with Indiana banged up and getting off to a 10-15 file via the primary 25 video games. No crew has ever been beneath .500 that deep right into a season and went on to win a championship.
For the Thunder, it will be a primary NBA title — type of, type of, Seattle gained one in 1979 and despite the fact that the franchise moved to Oklahoma Metropolis from there, the Thunder don’t acknowledge it as one in every of their very own — and wrap up a season during which the crew scored extra factors than another membership in NBA historical past and posted the perfect file.
“We have to understand the work is done and we have to trust the work,” Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault mentioned Saturday, the ultimate apply day of the season. “The muscle is built. We have to flex that muscle. That’s what tomorrow will come down to for us.”
It has been the epitome of a back-and-forth collection, with each groups having the lead sooner or later. Indiana led 1-0 and 2-1; Oklahoma Metropolis led 3-2 however received blown out in Sport 6, its first likelihood at successful the title.
So, right here we’re, tied at 3-3, one recreation away from a call.
“Grateful for the opportunity,” Thunder guard Jalen Williams mentioned. “That’s one thing I can say is throughout the whole entire thing, you always have to remain grateful for where you are because there’s a lot of NBA players that will trade their spot with me right now. That’s how I look at it. But as far as history, I want to be on the good side of that, for sure.”
Oklahoma Metropolis has regarded each bit the a part of a championship contender all 12 months; going 68-14 within the common season cemented the Thunder into the favourite’s function. Being the perfect crew within the common season is for this very privilege, to play host for Sport 7.
The Pacers peaked on the proper time and took the extra circuitous route right here. However they’ve already began this collection with a win in Oklahoma Metropolis. They see no motive why it may’t finish the identical manner.
“I think we just have done a great job of just staying together,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton mentioned. “There’s not a group of guys I’d rather go to war with. I’m really excited to compete with these guys in a Game 7, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
HALIBURTON’S HEALTH
The strained proper calf continues to be a difficulty for Haliburton, however he performed in Sport 6 with the damage and — no shock — he’s going to play in Sport 7.
“I’m pretty much in the same standpoint I was before Game 6,” Haliburton mentioned. “A little sore. Good thing I only had to play like 23 minutes. I’ve been able to get even more treatment and do more things. Just trying to take care of it the best I can. But I’ll be ready to go for Game 7.”
THUNDER IN TITLE SHOTS
Counting all video games this season, Oklahoma Metropolis’s two lowest-scoring outputs have been 81 factors towards Milwaukee and 91 factors towards Indiana.
The Bucks recreation was within the NBA Cup last.
The Pacers recreation was Sport 6, when OKC had an opportunity to win the NBA title.
So, within the two “championship” video games the Thunder have performed this season, they’re averaging 86 factors. In all different video games, they’re averaging 119.7 factors.
“We obviously have to get better offensively,” Thunder guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Last game, clearly, was not good enough and not going to cut it, and we know that. We watch film for those type of things. You have games like that. Now, it sucks to have it at that stage obviously, but we know we have to be better, for sure.”
