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4w ago

Pacers Aim to Cap Cinderella Run With Road Upset in Game 7

They head to OKC as 7.5-point underdogs after a dominant Game 6 win that forced a winner-take-all finale.

The Spurs' Manu Ginobili is sandwiched between the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace, left, and Richard Hamilton while looking for a freethrow rebound during first quarter of game two NBA Finals Sunday, June 12, 2005 at the SBC Center in San Antonio. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI/STAFF
San Antonio Spurs' Robert Horry (5) loses the ball as he charges the basket against Detroit Pistons Rasheed Wallace (36), and Ben Wallace (3) during the first quarter in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Auburn Hills, Mich., Tuesday, June 14, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photos/Jeff Roberson)
San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili, left, Tony Parker (9) and Bruce Bowen, right, celebrate with the NBA Championship trophy after they defeated the Detroit Pistons 81-74 to win the NBA finals in San Antonio, Thursday, June 23, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Overview

  • The Pacers clinched Game 6 by 17 points to force a winner-take-all contest, with Tyrese Haliburton contributing 14 points in 23 minutes despite a calf strain.
  • Oklahoma City is a 7.5-point favorite for Game 7 after going 12-0 at home in the playoffs and posting a +247 point differential on its floor.
  • NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder with averages of 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the Finals series.
  • Indiana began the season at +6600 preseason odds to win the championship, making them the biggest underdog to reach the Finals in nearly four decades.
  • A Pacers victory on Sunday would make them only the fifth team ever to win a deciding Game 7 on the road in NBA Finals history.