By Tim Reynolds
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Season on the road, the Indiana Pacers did what they’ve executed time and time once more. They bucked the chances.
And the NBA Finals are going to an final recreation.
Obi Toppin scored 20 factors, Andrew Nembhard added 17 and the Pacers compelled a winner-take-all Recreation 7 by rolling previous the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 108-91 on Thursday evening.
The primary Recreation 7 within the NBA Finals since 2016 is Sunday evening in Oklahoma Metropolis.
“The ultimate game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated.
Pascal Siakam had 16 factors and 13 rebounds for Indiana, whereas Tyrese Haliburton — taking part in via a strained calf — scored 14 factors. The Pacers began slowly after which turned issues right into a blowout.
Recreation 6 was a microcosm of Indiana’s season in a method. The Pacers began the common season with 15 losses in 25 video games, have had 5 comebacks from 15 or extra all the way down to win video games in these playoffs, they usually’re one win from a title.
“We just wanted to protect home court,” Haliburton stated. “We didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall and we just responded. … Total team effort.”
TJ McConnell, the prompt the bench once more, completed with 12 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for Indiana.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 factors for the Thunder, who pulled their starters after getting down by 30 going into the fourth. Jalen Williams added 16.
“Credit Indiana,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game.”
Indiana missed its first eight photographs and received down 10-2. The world, roaring just some minutes earlier than in the beginning, quieted rapidly. Corridor of Famer Reggie Miller, sitting courtside in a Jalen Rose Pacers jersey, was pacing, kneeling, usually appearing extra nervous than he ever appeared as a participant.
No want.
After the gradual begin, the Pacers outscored the Thunder 68-32 over the following 24 minutes. An Indiana crew that hadn’t led by greater than 10 factors at any time within the first 5 video games — and that double-digit lead was transient — led by 28 early within the third quarter. The margin finally received to 31, which was Oklahoma Metropolis’s second-biggest deficit of the season.
The worst additionally got here in these playoffs: a 45-point gap towards Minnesota within the Western Convention finals. The Thunder got here again to win that sequence, clearly, and now will want that bounce-back means yet one more time.
“Obviously, it was a very poor performance by us,” Daigneault stated.
The Thunder, determined for a spark, put Alex Caruso within the beginning lineup rather than Isaiah Hartenstein to open the second half. There was no spark. Actually, there was nothing in any way — neither crew scored within the first 3:53 after halftime, the perimeters combining to overlook their first 13 photographs of the third quarter.
And the end result was by no means doubtful.
