Pacers Insiders break down Game 5 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma
IndyStar's Dustin Dopirak and Nate Atkins break down the Indiana Pacers' Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
2025 NBA Finals: Pacers Bury Unwanted Emotion, Force Game 7 Vs Thunder
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace ... More defends during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS — Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals was just 50 minutes away, and Indiana Pacers forward James Johnson needed a hand fulfilling one of his unofficial team duties. A key veteran voice for the blue and gold, Johnson was searching for a way to motivate his group ahead of a game in which they were fighting off elimination. Down 3-2 in the series, he wanted to write a quote on the locker room whiteboard. Something powerful and inspiring. But there was one problem. Johnson's handwriting isn't great. 'Who's a good writer?' Johnson called out. Bennedict Mathurin, celebrating his 23rd birthday, stepped up. Mathurin, competitive as ever, wants to be the best at everything, even penmanship. He grabbed a red marker. Johnson recited the quote, an old Muhammad Ali line about rising after a fall, word by word. Mathurin carefully scribbled it out, and the two worked together to get the spacing just right. 45 minutes before tipoff, they were done. Every player who walked through the locker room — all of them required to at least once — would see Mathurin's handiwork and Johnson's message. The Pacers were going to need to heed the words printed in ink. They were down in the Finals and facing elimination for the first time of the postseason. A win was required, and they needed to recover after consecutive losses. Their opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, won 68 games this season. Individual brilliance — while helpful, as Mathurin proved in Game 3 — is not enough to beat them. It takes a total team effort and sustained resilience. Johnson wanted to remind everyone of that before the pivotal battle. It was a new situation for the Pacers, who have largely cruised through in this postseason until this series. Now, they were navigating new emotions as they faced a series defeat on the biggest stage the NBA provides. Nerves, pressure, and urgency all appeared. Getting their mentality right was critical, and that's part of Johnson's role. Wing Aaron Nesmith, who has played in an NBA Finals before, was asked later Thursday night which of his teammates helped steady the locker room. '[Johnson] is always good about it,' Nemith began before talking about veteran forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith feels as if it's important to be even-keeled in a one-game setting, and experienced teammates help everyone else stay grounded. So a small moment — one player who wanted a motivational quote on the whiteboard, another one eager to write it — became something bigger. It helped stabilize the locker room. And that quiet clarity carried over to the court, where the Pacers delivered one of their strongest performances of the season, hammering the Thunder and giving Gainbridge Fieldhouse one last moment to celebrate this season. What did James Johnson's message mean for the Pacers in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals? The Ali quote Johnson chose about getting up after being knocked down felt prophetic almost immediately. Indiana lost Game 5, and OKC took a 10-2 lead within the first four minutes of action in Game 6. The Pacers were reeling and watching their chance at a title slip away. They took a timeout and needed to rise once again. Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates with forward James Johnson (16) during the second ... More half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The next 40 minutes of play were all about the Pacers getting up after being knocked down. That eight-point deficit was erased in 45 seconds. Indiana led barely two minutes after talking things over, and their edge grew as high as nine in the first quarter. They started off slow after two straight defeats and were pinned to the mat, but they battled back again. It was the response Johnson envisioned. But the Thunder pushed again in the second quarter, trimming the lead to one with 9:29 left. Rick Carlisle, the Pacers veteran head coach who has guided his team with sage adjustments throughout this postseason run, stopped the game to talk things over. That changed everything. Indiana erupted, going on a 32-11 run. Their lead was 22 at halftime, and the Indy crowd was electric. So were the Pacers, who rolled through the third quarter and carried a 30-point cushion into the fourth. That was enough to coast the rest of the way and take Game 6 108-91. The blue and gold responded, again. The message to rise had been received. Now the series is tied 3-3, heading to a winner-take-all Game 7. 'We continue to be us no matter what,' Siakam said postgame. 'I think that's what makes us who we are.' The Pacers, at every turn, are prepared to fight back. When they're down in a series, or down in a game, they've proven that they can even things up. Some of that comes from talent. Other parts of it come from leadership. The day before Game 6, Pacers center Myles Turner was asked about inspiration, and specifically if Carlisle had applied any motivational tactics to boost the team mentally. The answer was yes, but Turner didn't think his coach should have to. In his eyes, the team's overall pride should be enough of a motivating factor. After Game 6, Turner sat at his locker composed. He was stoic yet in a good mood, listening to Seal's 'Kiss From a Rose'. He recalled a similar moment from last season when the Pacers were down 3-2 against the New York Knicks in the second round. They won that series in seven games. Repeating that success is their hope, and Johnson did everything in his power to make it happen. And in a fitting twist, the veteran forward that played just 37 total minutes during the regular season checked into Game 6 with 3:04 remaining. He was getting NBA Finals court time on the same night that his off-court value was so deeply felt. During Johnson's three years with the Pacers, he's become a crowd favorite as Indiana fans learn more about his true value to the franchise. As he entered the game, Gainbridge Fieldhouse roared with excitement. When he was ejected with 57 seconds left for slapping Dillon Jones, those roars returned. Fans were cheering for him the same way he cheered on his teammates with motivational quotes before the game. They were rooting for a leader that made sure any unwanted emotions were gone. Johnson's teammates heard the message, and they all earned another chance to play in the 2025 NBA Finals. It's a Game 7 on Sunday for the championship, and the Pacers don't have the opportunity without its veterans.
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Thunder vs. Pacers Predictions, Picks: Back OKC To Start Fast In Game 7
Game 7. Two of the best words in sports. This will be especially true when the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder take the court on Sunday for the final game of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers dominated Game 6, tied the series and then forced a Game 7. OKC now has the opportunity to bounce back from a poor performance. But the Thunder will need guys to step up. After the season-saving Game 6 win for Indiana, both teams have a chance to clinch their first championship on Sunday. With that in mind, I see four wagers that have value right now. Let's dive into it. Thunder first quarter My favorite wager to make in the postseason is to take a team coming off a loss to cover the first quarter in the next game when they are playing at home. It's an even better wager with a team like Oklahoma City, which is fantastic at home. The Thunder have won and covered the first quarter in all three home games of this series. They also won and covered four of the first six quarters following a loss. This last loss was gnarly. It marked the worst offensive performance by the Thunder this season. They shot just 26% from three-point range, with most of their makes coming during garbage time. They had 21 turnovers and were out-rebounded. Given that poor performance, it's common for teams to play better in their next game at home. I expect the Thunder to start fast on Sunday night. PICK: Thunder (-3.5) first quarter My player props for Game 7 are all zigzag props. The theory involves betting the opposite side of a player prop following either an awful night or one that's been too good. For example, in Game 6, Aaron Wiggins was the perfect fade opportunity. At home in Game 5, he scored 14 points, but in Game 6, he went Under 5.5 points. Keeping this in mind, here are my player prop picks for Game 7. Alex Caruso Over 8.5 Points Caruso played 22 minutes in Game 6 and didn't score a single point. He only attempted two shots, the least number of shots he's taken in a game since logging 12 minutes in Game 1 against the Grizzlies. Caruso has scored just two points in the last two games while playing 51 minutes. There have been instances this postseason where he has fewer points than usual in two straight games, only to follow that up by scoring over 8.5 points. He scored 10 points in Game 4 against the Nuggets after just nine in the previous two games and reached 10 points against the Wolves in Game 4 after only scoring 12 in the last two games. Caruso might see more playing time as well. The Thunder have been tweaking their lineups, and he's part of the most optimal lineup. He will get the chance to surpass 8.5 points. PICK: Alex Caruso Over 8.5 points Jalen Williams Over 9.5 rebounds and assists Like the rest of his team, Jalen Williams had an off night in Game 6, but he had been super reliable in the previous five games of this series. He's recorded at least 10 rebounds and assists in four of those five games. Looking back to the prior two series, he's exceeded 9.5 rebounds and assists in six of the last eight games. Further, he's managed at least 10 rebounds and assists in four of the six games following a Thunder loss. Williams has taken more control of the Thunder's offense in recent games, especially as the Pacers keep hounding SGA in the backcourt. Following a game where the Thunder didn't shoot well or pass much, I expect Williams to generate more assists. He's often around the basket due to who he's guarding, so rebounds should be more within his reach. I like him Over here. PICK: Jalen Williams Over 9.5 rebounds and assists Obi Toppin Under 10.5 points It's tough to fade someone who's hot, but this is the spot to do it. Toppin has scored 17, 12 and 20 points in his last three games — which is the most points he's scored in a three-game stretch this postseason. He's been a bright spot for the Pacers at the center position, especially with Myles Turner struggling the last three games. Can Toppin do it again? Four straight games, plus a Game 7 on the road? These are not the games where role players typically shine. PICK: Obi Toppin Under 10.5 points Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @ GeoffSchwartz . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Udonis Haslem Picks Winner of NBA Finals Without Hesitation
Udonis Haslem Picks Winner of NBA Finals Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers picked up a massive 108-91 victory in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder, forcing the NBA's first Game 7 in the Finals since 2016. Advertisement Indiana's star duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will be looking to cap off one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history with a championship win. The Pacers' undying grit and overwhelming determination has pushed the group this far, and they'll now have a chance to take home the franchise's first-ever NBA title. With plenty in the broader NBA sphere still predicting the Thunder to claim the Larry O'Brien trophy by the conclusion of Game 7, a former Miami Heat legend and 3-time NBA champion has vocalized his decision to back Indiana. Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) reacts after entering the game during the first quarter at the Kaseya Navarro-USA TODAY Sports "I think Indiana believe that they can win this championship, regardless of what anybody else thinks," Udonis Haslem shared during a Friday morning appearance on ESPN's Get Up. Advertisement "I've been in locker rooms where we listened to the chatter of the media where they say, 'that team doesn't have a chance,' and, 'this team should be up,' and 'this series should be over.' I've been in those locker rooms. They've been using that as gasoline." As a former 20-year veteran with plenty of NBA Finals experience, Haslem argued that Indiana's camaraderie and teamwork will push them over the top. "The power of the brotherhood has brought this team leadership, the coaching, the brotherhood, the connection." "No, they do not have a superstar, but everybody on that team stars in their role. I believe in this team, I am a believer." Advertisement The Pacers will be facing a Thunder group that won 68 games in the regular season for a Game 7 in front of their raucous fans. As an added kicker, the reigning MVP of the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, stands in their path. Still, Haslem has supreme confidence in the Pacers because of their reputation for silencing doubt while playing fast-paced, team-oriented basketball. The Heat have taken a trip to the Finals seven different times in the Haslem-era, and he's served as both an integral defensive force and wise veteran presence throughout his career. With an NBA championship on the line, Haslem is sticking with the underdog Pacers prior to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Advertisement Related: Potential Heat-Suns Trade News Surfaces Amid Kevin Durant Rumors Related: NBA Champion Names 'Perfect' Spot for Kevin Durant This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
