Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) brings the ball up court docket previous Indiana Pacers middle Tony Bradley (13) through the second quarter in recreation 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Heart. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos The Indiana Pacers return house for Sport 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night time attempting to stave off elimination whereas not understanding precisely what they’re going to be capable of get out of star level guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Battling a calf pressure, Haliburton is anticipated to attempt to play in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who maintain a 3-2 collection lead.
Haliburton’s unsure standing is a major wrinkle for odds and props forward of Sport 6.
ODDS & TRENDS
The Thunder have been a consensus 6.0-point favourite as of mid-day Thursday. Nevertheless, the unfold was sitting at 5.5 at books together with FanDuel, Caesars, DraftKings and BetMGM, the place Oklahoma Metropolis has been backed by 58 p.c of the spread-line bets and 61 p.c of the cash.
The road had moved from 6.5 to six.0 factors at BetRivers, the place the Thunder have drawn 83 p.c of the spread-line cash whereas the entire bets have been virtually even. The e book reported taking a $57,660 wager on Oklahoma Metropolis at -6.5.
The 219.5 complete factors line has seen the Over draw 69 p.c of each the entire bets and cash.
KEY STATS
Indiana has gained eight consecutive house video games following a loss, whereas Oklahoma Metropolis has didn’t cowl the unfold in its previous six highway video games following a win.
The house staff has gained the primary half in every of the Pacers’ previous 13 video games, in line with BetRivers.
PROP PICKS
–T.J. McConnell Over 10.5 Factors (-107 at BetRivers): This has understandably drawn the very best proportion of prop cash on the e book with the unsure standing of Haliburton. McConnell is averaging 11.2 factors by means of the primary 5 video games, though 18 of them recreation in Monday’s Sport 5 loss by which the Pacers fell behind large halfway by means of the fourth quarter.
–Pascal Siakam 20+ Factors (-120 at DraftKings): One other market impacted by Haliburton’s damage, this has been the most well-liked play at DraftKings. Siakam is coming off an enormous Sport 5 by which he poured in 28 factors. Nevertheless, that is the one recreation within the collection by which he has topped 21.
THE NEWS
As Oklahoma Metropolis turned a 2-1 collection deficit to a 3-2 benefit, Haliburton has struggled from the sphere, hitting simply 7 of 21 pictures from the sphere over the previous two video games, together with a 1-for-11 clip from 3-point vary. He has totaled simply 22 factors in 70 minutes.
“You do not underestimate nice gamers. Within the case that he performs, we’re anticipating his finest punch,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “You do not underestimate nice groups. Within the occasion he would not play, we’re anticipating Indiana’s finest.”
Heroes of the collection emerged from virtually each phase of the rotation.
Haliburton’s near-triple-double in Sport 3 was underscored by Indiana’s 49 bench factors, 27 from Bennedict Mathurin and 5 steals from McConnell. Andrew Nembhard shifted to level guard in Haliburton’s place within the Japanese Convention semifinals final 12 months, when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 collection deficit to beat the Knicks in Video games 6 and seven.
“I feel clearly Tyrese is an enormous a part of what we do. Whether or not he performs or not, I feel it’ll be a staff factor,” Siakam mentioned. “We’ve to collectively all step up. The significance of the sport, we simply all need to take a step ahead. It should be down the road.
“I do not suppose any certainly one of us ought to really feel like one particular person goes to need to do it,” the Indiana ahead continued. “It should be collective.”
Siakam put up 28 factors and stepped up within the fourth quarter of Sport 5 with out Haliburton. Extra of the identical is so as if the Pacers want to sustain with OKC’s 1-2 punch.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a mixed 66 factors in Video games 4 and 5 for the Thunder. However the nationwide highlight has been shared with Oklahoma Metropolis’s Jalen Williams, who tallied 67 factors over the identical span, together with a 40-point outburst in Sport 5 with the Pacers setting a protection decided to assist and drive the ball out of SGA’s fingers.
“It makes me sound like a jerk,” Williams mentioned of not answering his cellphone the previous week to maintain the concentrate on successful a title. “An enormous factor for us — we have completed a extremely good job of specializing in us.”
Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned being “on the cusp of successful just isn’t successful, and the best way I see it, successful is all that issues.”
He credited the group for constructing the tradition and surroundings to make the Thunder a marvel of a turnaround story.
Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned he is buoyed at this level within the season by the closeness of the locker room and the way a lot enjoyable the whole staff is having.
“Specializing in Sport 6,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Specializing in simply being the perfect model of myself for this basketball staff for no matter it takes — nonetheless many video games it’s, nonetheless many possessions are wanted, nonetheless many moments. Keep within the second, and simply attempt to persist with that script.”
Oklahoma Metropolis led 3-2 within the Western Convention semifinals and misplaced Sport 6 to Denver earlier than a dramatic effort to take Sport 7. Williams mentioned Oklahoma Metropolis did not “come out able to play” in that Sport 6.
Carlisle mentioned the Pacers are leaning on the expertise of trailing the Knicks 3-2 final summer time, when Gainbridge Fieldhouse become an energy-feeding benefit for Sport 6.
“Buckle down, stand robust,” Carlisle mentioned of his message to the staff.
However with SGA and Williams each averaging 30 or extra factors the final three video games, Oklahoma Metropolis expects nothing lower than greatness on Thursday.
“A lot of the nice gamers are artwork. They’re unbelievably distinctive,” Daigneault mentioned. “That is each nice participant. Siakam is like that. Haliburton is like that. They’re certainly one of one. All the good gamers are. … They’re nice gamers, however they do it contained in the staff (idea) and do not suffocate the staff.”
Daigneault is not but speaking particularly in regards to the spoils at stake Thursday night time.
“We have tried to take a stack mindset to every thing we have completed. Even when the staff was rebuilding. You possibly can’t skip steps within the course of,” Daigneault mentioned. “We need to win the sport tomorrow.
“However an important factor we are able to do is put together at this time, put together tomorrow. Play the primary possession rather well. After which the subsequent possession. Win at this time. The minute you begin to drift mentally into the longer term and into the previous, it impacts your skill to stack the subsequent factor.”
THEY SAID IT
–“We’re all the time attempting to place ourselves in our opponent’s footwear. Zero and nil mindset. We’re not introducing any new ideas proper now, we’re simply counting on the psychological habits we have constructed over time.” — Thunder coach Mark Daigneault of Oklahoma Metropolis’s focus with a 3-2 lead.
–“I feel it depends upon who you ask. I’ve to grasp the dangers, ask the precise questions.” — Haliburton mentioned of how he’ll determine to play. “However I am a competitor. I need to play. I will do every thing in my energy to play.” –Haliburton on his enjoying standing Thursday. He scored 22 factors and was one rebound shy of a triple-double in Indiana’s Sport 3 victory on June 11.
PREDICTION
This has the sensation of a possible Thunder rout because the Pacers have fought tooth-and-nail to achieve this level however are actually going through Sport 6 with a restricted Haliburton at finest. –Thunder 120, Pacers 110
–Discipline Degree Media
