Pacers at Thunder Game 7 picks, odds, how to watch: OKC favored in NBA Finals finale
The NBA Finals will feature a Game 7 for the first time since 2016 and just the fifth time in the 21st century. We are all Kurtis Blow this weekend.
Regular-season MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Oklahoma City Thunder open as sizable home favorites, but the Indiana Pacers just issued a thorough beatdown to necessitate this extra game. A hobbled Tyrese Haliburton played through gritted teeth in Game 6, while Indy's defense triumphed in its biggest test. The Larry O'Brien Trophy now finds its new home on Sunday night. Here's to the last Mike Breen 'bang!' before summer hiatus.
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OKC needs to put its Game 6 performance through a paper shredder, then put those shreds in an incinerator. With the chance to win its maiden championship, Oklahoma City coughed up 21 turnovers and committed 20 fouls. Lu Dort froze around the perimeter, and Chet Holmgren looked completely lost down low. The Thunder shot a paltry 8-of-30 on 3-pointers and were smoked in 1-on-1 ball.
To reset the ledger, Mark Daigneault and his staff need to instill patience. Rather than try to run with their brisk and frenetic foes, the Thunder look to be at their best with modest ball movement and controlled, driving possessions. They won Game 5 with just 11 giveaways, and lost Game 6 with nearly double that. Oklahoma City leads Indiana in three of the 'four factors,' but the only lead of true significance is in free-throw rate.
The hosts have been funneling through their alpha and omega of SGA and Jalen Williams. Those two are averaging a combined 54.7 points across Finals play, but together they're 12-for-44 from behind the arc. A few more made treys stand between them and glory (more misses — more heartbreak).
The Pacers will throw contrasting vibes in the do-or-die road finale. Rick Carlisle's crew traffics in chaos, hyperspeed and perhaps the most balanced scoring punch in Finals history. No one on the team is at 20 points per game in this series, but eight (eight? what!?!) different Pacers have double-digit averages. The most improbable NBA champion ever will try to steal Game 7 by pushing the pace and deploying its Frankenstein-like lineup. Bench mobbers Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell have the hot hands, and they could see even more minutes if Indiana drops the opening quarter, which it has done four of six times.
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(Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Andrew Nembhard: William Purnell / Getty Images)
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