
NBA Finals return to Indiana for Game 6—How to watch Thunder-Pacers for free
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are just one win away.
Entering tonight's Game 6, the Thunder have a 3-2 series lead over the Indiana Pacers, putting them within one win of their first NBA Finals trophy since moving to Oklahoma City.
In the 120-109 victory, Jalen Williams scored a career playoff-high 40 points, while reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another 31, and unlike Game 1, Indiana did not complete a double-digit comeback or even come close. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was held to just four points, the result of a right calf injury that took him out of the game.
Advertisement
what to know about thunder vs. pacers When: June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET
June 19, Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana) Channel: ABC
ABC Streaming: DIRECTV (five days free)
Here's everything you need to know about Thunder vs. Pacers Game 6, including where to tune in without cable.
What time is the Thunder-Pacers game on tonight?
Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and the Pacers is on at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, June 19.
How to watch Thunder vs. Pacers for free:
Advertisement
One of our favorite ways to watch live sports — including today's NBA Finals matchup — without cable is with a DIRECTV five-day free trial. ABC is included in base plans, which start at $59.99/month.
Get All The Sports And Save!
125+ Channels
STREAM LIVE & ON DEMAND TV
Watch for free on your phone on the go, via your smart TV, or any compatible device. You get up to 3 concurrent out-of-home streams!
Try it for free and save $30 on your first month!
(Choice package includes 125+ channels and Regional Sports Networks for the most MLB games available anywhere)
$89.99/mo.
FREE
DIRECTV WATCH NOW
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals schedule:
Game 1: Pacers 111 , Thunder 110
, Thunder 110 Game 2: Thunder 123 , Pacers 107
, Pacers 107 Game 3: Pacers 116 , Thunder 107
, Thunder 107 Game 4: Thunder 111 , Pacers 104
, Pacers 104 Game 5: Thunder 120 , Pacers 109
, Pacers 109 Game 6: Thunder at Pacers (Thu. June 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 7: Pacers at Thunder (Sun, June 22, 8 ET on ABC) *
*Games 5-7 only if necessary
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post's streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she's also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
The best two words in sports: ‘Game 7.' Are ESPN and the NBA ready?
Ahead of a highly anticipated Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, the Athletic's sports media columnist Richard Deitsch connected with sports business editor Dan Shanoff to talk about the expectations and pressure — not on the teams, but on the league and its broadcast partner ESPN to deliver a great experience for fans. Advertisement Shanoff: It's a cliche, but it's also true — the two greatest words in sports are 'Game 7.' What kind of pressure are the NBA and ESPN under to deliver a presentation that matches the moment, or is 'Game 7' the kind of thing that no league or network can screw up, because it's so inherently interesting/dramatic? Deitsch: There was a very famous monologue delivered by Al Michaels prior to the start of ABC's coverage of the famous Miracle On Ice game: 'What we have at hand, the rarest of sporting events — an event that needs no buildup, no superfluous adjectives.' (Shanoff sidebar to readers: Take 60 seconds and watch the first 45 seconds of the broadcast, just Michaels' intro right at the start of this video. It is as close to perfect as it gets in sports TV.) That's true of all Game 7s and title games for major sports. The interest is inherent. The broadcaster has an immense duty to make you feel like you are about to witness a monumental event. Sunday's ABC presentation needs to highlight what the game means for these teams and in a historical sense. If ESPN/ABC is smart, they will go heavy in the pregame coverage on the last time we had a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. The best advice I can give — and this is often hard for ESPN — is to not make this game about ESPN or what an ESPN personality thinks. Make it about the game. Please. Quite frankly, I don't know to whom you might be referring. Speaking of making it about the game: ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen's 'Blocked by James!' from the NBA Finals Game 7 in 2016 is one of the most iconic NBA broadcast calls of all time. Are he, Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson under any unusual pressure to deliver 'a moment?' The pressure will be to make sure they nail the game's biggest moments, but that is just as much on the producer and director. This announcing booth will have something that can benefit them for Game 7 — they were all part of the last time we saw a Game 7 for the NBA Finals: Breen was the play-by-play announcer, Burke was the sideline reporter and Jefferson played for the Cavs. They should delve into that during the broadcast. What's unique about this broadcast is that it is likely the last time we see them as a trio calling the NBA Finals. To that point, for ESPN, what does success look like in a game like this? Simple. Success is a broadcast where people talk about the game afterward and not the broadcast. Speaking of the game presentation, the league seems to have been unusually responsive to audience (and columnist) critiques of the game broadcast, including adding digitized Finals logos to the floor and bringing back televised pre-game player introductions for the first time in more than a decade. Why do you think that is, and what do you make of that approach? The NBA was reactive here, but it's better to be reactive with a popular change than not to react at all. I did a podcast last week with Jon Lewis, editor and founder of Sports Media Watch, and both of us were struck by how much the ABC broadcast of these Finals didn't feel much different than any other postseason game. Player introductions make a game feel bigger. It's not rocket science. For so many people who watch pro wrestling, it's the entrance to the ring that gets people the most excited. Think 'Cult of Personality' playing for C.M. Punk. This is where I think NBC is going to do well next year with the NBA. They event-ize everything. Advertisement And, as you said, 'Game 7' is inherently an event. Front Office Sports' Colin Salao posted an interesting point: The past four NBA Finals Game 7s saw a 65 percent lift in audience from the rest of the series. For this one, that would put it just under 20 million viewers, which would be the most watched Finals game of the 2020s. Of course, it won't compare to the Game 7 in 2016 — Cavs vs. Warriors, LeBron vs. Steph — which drew 31 million viewers (for good reason). Where do you think Monday's Game 7 nets out? Before the series started, I predicted (1) Pacers-Thunder would be a tremendous series, (2) that two small-market teams was not a formula for viewership success and (3) that if the series went seven, it would draw more viewers than this year's Ohio State-Notre Dame title game (22.1 million viewers). Two of those three predictions were correct. Given the viewership of the first six games, I don't think this series has enough momentum to get 22 million viewers. I think the Game 7 lift will be smaller than in years past. So I expect 15-18 million viewers for Game 7. Whatever the viewership number, the NBA and ESPN get bailed out because the average viewership for the series will not be as catastrophic as it would have been with a short series.


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
How Pacers' counterintuitive strategy shut down Thunder's stars in NBA Finals
It's never too late to make a change in life — or at least in the most important moment of one's professional life. The Indiana Pacers are all about chaos. They've made this run to the 2025 NBA Finals by amplifying games to a blurring speed their opponents can't control. That includes a strategy that's rare in the NBA: A full-court press designed to wear out opposing ballhandlers. Advertisement But their Game 6 triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday was, in one important way, a grand reveal that they are more than a one-note team. How did the Pacers solve the seemingly unsolvable problem of defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams? They pulled the chair on the entire Thunder offense. After several games of full-court pressure, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took some heat off the Pacers' approach. Instead of pushing forward, Indiana's defenders dropped back and waited for the Thunder stars to come to them before bringing their pressure. As Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote noted, the Pacers' pick-up points on Thunder ballhandlers were much more conservative than they have been all series. Average pick-up distance for the Pacers on defense in Games 1-5: 56.9 feet Average pick-up distance for the Pacers on defense in Game 6: 41.4 feet Big difference — Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) June 20, 2025 The Thunder weren't ready for it. As the Pacers' coverages evolved throughout the game, their primary objective was to keep Thunder ballhandlers from getting downhill. That required slowing things down on defense to provide a chance for more precision and balance. Indiana loosened the grip on its fastball, putting some more bend on its cutter that Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't figure out. The result was eight turnovers for the MVP. The Pacers' problem with full-court pressure coming into Thursday was that it invited Thunder players — particularly Isaiah Hartenstein — to set step-up ball screens in the backcourt. Indiana couldn't control the vast space underneath those picks, so the Thunder stars had tons of room to rub off their screeners and get wherever they wanted. Indiana's adjustment was to wait until those ballhandlers, particularly Gilgeous-Alexander, crossed the half-court line before springing their trap. On the first play of the game, the Pacers stacked off-ball defenders high into the gaps, steering the MVP into a tight pocket against the sideline. The way Andrew Nembhard suddenly flipped around to pick up Gilgeous-Alexander caught Hartenstein by surprise. Even that play was higher up the floor than Indiana operated for much of the rest of the game. Indiana's guards set their pick-up points in a more typical area closer to the 3-point line, which made most of their pick-and-roll coverages more effective. When Williams or other guards screened for Gilgeous-Alexander, Indiana was able to switch more comfortably because there wasn't an acre of space behind them. There was less pressure to contain the ball at the point of attack when switching, since the ballhandler would run into help quickly if they got past Indiana's primary defender. Advertisement This forced the Thunder into more isolation plays, making it easier for the other Pacers defenders to aggressively clog the paint. Gilgeous-Alexander lost steam as the game went on, with his possessions looking more listless. That helped Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell pick up some steals by double-teaming Gilgeous-Alexander from behind. The prior two games, both Thunder wins, made it clear that while the Thunder stars weren't looking to take pull-up 3s off high screens, they gained momentum from driving into space without a body in front of them. Even when the Pacers' bigs crept above the screen level to double-team Gilgeous-Alexander, he still had space to dribble around those defenders and pick up speed. He is a master at staying in motion and then pushing into gaps to break through coverage. In Game 6, the Pacers forced the MVP to do everything over a squared-up defender and lots of help. Remember Pascal Siakam sitting in the gap on the first play of the game that resulted in a turnover? He was now able to essentially be a secondary dropper on Gilgeous-Alexander pick-and-rolls as part of Carlisle's bet to sacrifice some 3-point coverage to clog the star's driving lanes. If the Pacers kept pressing full court, Gilgeous-Alexander would have come off those high ball screens with more paths to speed past any gapped defenders. But pushing back the pick-up points made it easier for Siakam to plant in driving lanes behind Myles Turner when the center was guarding up to the screen level. The strategy against Williams followed the same spirit, though it differed slightly. For one, the Pacers started ducking under high screens for Williams, allowing Nesmith to catch up from below the action while the screener's defender pushed Williams' drives sideways. Advertisement But Carlisle finally accepted he'd need to put bigs on Williams if necessary. I wrote Thursday morning that the Pacers should start mixing in more pick-and-roll switches involving Siakam, Obi Toppin and Turner, even if it left them on an island guarding Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams in isolation. Siakam has been the Pacers' best help defender in this series, and having him guard either of the two Thunder stars takes him away from that role. Now, the Pacers have moved away from lineups with Siakam at center, giving them another big on the floor to take on the lane-clogging role if he needs to switch at the point of attack. In Game 6, Siakam was able to stay in front of Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander, then contest high to be an effective antidote. His length threw off Gilgeous-Alexander's tempo. Most defenders have to be within reaching distance of the Thunder guard to create leverage, but Siakam is long enough to sit a full dribble back. He can close his hips to shuffle backwards when Gilgeous-Alexander hits his trigger step into a drive and use his wingspan to contest any potential stepback jumper. That makes it easier for help defenders to sit deeper into the gaps and get Gilgeous-Alexander to pick up his dribble early. In contrast, there were many possessions in Games 1-5 where Nembhard and Nesmith stayed in front of the Thunder's drivers, but lacked the length to contest mid-paint stepbacks. The Pacers won't be able to catch the Thunder off guard two games in a row. But Oklahoma City's shooting, which has been mediocre in this series, will have to improve in a high-pressure situation to make the Pacers pay for dropping back into the gaps. The Thunder may need to rely even more on their defense, which failed to stop a hobbled Tyrese Haliburton from taking control of Game 6. Game plans can only do so much on the biggest stage in basketball. It's unlikely the Pacers will be able to avoid crunch time again, as the Thunder will have plenty of counters to the Pacers' new approach. But at least it got the Pacers to a Game 7, where a battle of wills will determine the next NBA champion. Zach Harper runs through everything you need to know heading into Sunday's Game 7.


New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
UFC Baku predictions: Full card picks for Fight Night in Azerbaijan
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The UFC is on the trail to the Middle East. Just less than 500 miles away from Tehran, Iran, we'll have a highly entertaining UFC card with 12 fights on it. It's a crazy time to be a UFC fan, as we get the second loaded pay-per-view card of the month next week. UFC Baku comes at you early Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and the main card will go off at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. A massive audience is expected with six of the 12 fights projected to the distance, according to oddsmakers — although five of the first six fights are projected to do so, meaning it could be a slow start to the day. UFC Baku Azerbaijan predictions Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. In the heavyweight division, Jamahal 'Sweet Dreams' Hill faces off against Khalil Rountree Jr. with this fight now being lined as a pick 'em, according to most oddsmakers. On Wednesday, Hill was an underdog and among my best bets on the card. Frankly, he is still there for me, even if some of the value has evaporated as we approach the weekend. Hill is coming off two competitive losses. Rountree was beaten down last time out against Alex Pereira in one of the more brutal and violent displays we've seen in the octagon of late. Jamahal Hill works out for fans and media during the UFC Fight Night open workout at Dinamo Square on June 18, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Zuffa LLC Rountree looked like a punching bag as he got to the third and fourth rounds of that fight. Looking at his schedule, his best wins are over Dustin Jacoby — a decision that I hated at the time and don't think he earned upon a re-watch — and a victory over now-retired Anthony Smith. Rountree isn't worth betting as a slight favorite, and Hill is the play this weekend. PICK: Jamahal Hill ML (-102, FanDuel) | by KO/TKO (+240, DraftKings) Rafael Fiziev is a master at landing body strikes. Getty Images Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Coming off three straight losses, Rafael Fiziev faces Ignacio Bahamondes. Two strikers are coming into Saturday night's co-main event tilt, and it should be fascinating to see how Fiziev recovers after the beatdown he received at the hands of Justin Gaethje. When reviewing tape, though, I think Fiziev is a solid matchup for Bahamondes. Bahamondes is much taller, but kicks have seldom been an issue for Fiziev and his strikes to the body pose an imminent threat to Bahamondes as this fight pushes forward. Fiziev should be able to utilize kicks to the body and legs to immobilize Bahamondes a bit, and I have a tough time backing the favorite here considering his strength of schedule is far below that of Fiziev. Fiziev was once considered a title contender and just because he's not the same level of striker as Gathje, it doesn't mean he should be an underdog Saturday. PICK: Fiziev by decision (+260, FanDuel) Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps UFC full card picks Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.: Jamahal Hill ML (-102, FanDuel) | by KO/TKO (+240, DraftKings) Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes: Fiziev by decision (+260, FanDuel) Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev: Fight starts round 2 (-290, Fanatics Sportsbook) Tofiq Musayev vs. Myktybek Orolbai: Orolbai by KO/TKO (+500, Bet365) Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta: Sadykhov by decision (+370, FanDuel) Muhammad Naimov vs. Bogdan Grad: Fight ends by KO/TKO (+130, DraftKings) Seokhyeon Ko vs. Oban Elliott: Fight goes the distance (-116, FanDuel) Ismail Naurdiev vs. JunYong Park: Naurdiev ML (+165, Caesars Sportsbook) Daria Zhelezniakova vs. Melissa Mullins: Fight goes the distance (+120, BetMGM) Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Sygula: Fight goes the distance (-125, BetRivers) Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum: Ulanbekov by decision (-110, Bet365) Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Mohammed Usman: Fight doesn't go the distance (+160, BetRivers) Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.