When people were ready to write them off, the Indiana Pacers fought back. With their backs against the wall against the OKC Thunder, the Pacers put up a memorable performance in Game 6 to force a Game 7, the decider of this season’s NBA Finals. After registering a dominant 108-91 win, Bennedict Mathurin revealed the team’s strategy.
A lot of things went wrong for the Pacers before Game 6. They had lost back-to-back games, they were down 2-3 in the series and were facing potential elimination, and to make things worse, their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, picked up a calf injury.
Before Game 6, the Pacers camp informed the media that they were preparing for the scenario where Haliburton wouldn’t even step on the floor. But despite all adversities, the Pacers managed to protect their home court. As per Mathurin, the strategy was simple yet effective.
We just have to find a way. That’s the most important thing, and I think we’ve done that. We’ve been doing that the whole season, finding ways to win the game. You know, that’s going to be the most important thing.
Mathurin said.
The Pacers forced Game 7 but fell short on their final shot, losing on the road to the season’s top team.
We’re playing away against a great team and a great crowd. All we have is us.
he added.
Team coach Rick Carlisle also had a message ahead of Game 7, and it’s fairly simple to understand for his team and the Pacers faithful.
Before Game 7, coach Rick Carlisle had a message for the supporters and his players:
One game. This is what it’s all about.
He said.
The Pacers won 50 games this regular season. They have also won 15 of the 22 playoff games this season. So, after a combined 65 wins in 104 games, it went down to the final game of the season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals
The Pacers travelled to Oklahoma for Game 7 at the Paycom Center. Even though they’re coming off a great performance, the pressure of Game 7 was immense. The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the NBA championship on Sunday, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the Finals. The win sealed a 4-3 series victory and delivered the Thunder their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City.
The Pacers came one win short of their first NBA title, finishing the season as runners-up.
Prateek is a seasoned content writer with over 2500 published articles and two+ years of experience. His passion for UFC was ignited during Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, and closely following McGregor’s journey inspired him to bring a sharp, fan-driven perspective to his UFC coverage, blending detailed analysis with compelling storytelling.
