After a 4-game road trip, the Oklahoma City Thunder is back home for the first time in 11 days, hosting the Indiana Pacers. OKC sits atop the NBA standings with the best record by far, but the Pacers have struggled all season long, and they are currently at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference. This game should have made for a fun Finals rematch, but the Pacers have struggled with long-term injuries to key players—namely Tyrese Haliburton—, and as a result, they have struggled to compete.
If you had told Thunder fans at the beginning of the season that their team would be playing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, they’d have been thrilled. It’s hard to say that’s the exact sentiment currently, considering this could have been decided on Thursday night, but none of that matters now. The stats, the odds, the expectations…none of that counts once the whistle blows, the ball is thrown in the air, and the two best teams in the NBA go head-to-head for one final game to decide who gets to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA Finals Game 7 Preview: Indiana Pacers
The unexpected happened in Game 6 when not only did Indiana manage to force a Game 7, but they dominated the Thunder. Now, the final matchup to decide the NBA Champion is expected to be a close one. I think the unexpected happens again, and we see OKC return to their dominant play, winning this one by double digits and etching their names in history.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC is a Solid Favorite Over Pacers in Finals Game 7
The Oklahoma City Thunder had an opportunity to close out the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, and it looked like they were going to do just that after a solid first few minutes of the game. The Thunder squandered their chance, though, succumbing to Indiana’s pressure, and the result was about as ugly a game as you could imagine. In the end, it was Indiana that celebrated a 108-91 win, sending the series back to OKC for Game 7.
View More Pacers Jump On Thunder Early in Game 6 of NBA Finals to Force Game 7
For the first time in franchise history, the Oklahoma City Thunder has an opportunity to bring home a Larry O’Brien Trophy as they look to close out the Indiana Pacers on the road in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. After a dominating first half in Game 5, the Thunder nearly allowed the Pacers another comeback victory as Indiana cut their deficit to 2 in the fourth quarter. Still, OKC answered in a big way as Jalen Williams recorded a game-high 40 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 31 points, 10 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA Finals Game 6 Preview: Indiana Pacers
OKC has an opportunity to close out the series and win the franchise’s first NBA Championship, and with Tyrese Haliburton questionable to play, that’s enough to think the Thunder should be able to win comfortably. Still, “The cusp of winning is not winning,” as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put it. This team may be young, but they know what needs to be done, and I think they have what it takes to win on the road in a convincing manner, thus covering the spread.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored for Finals Game 6 in Closeout Opportunity On the Road
Oklahoma City Thunder fans began the season with championship hopes, and while the odds didn’t necessarily lean towards the Thunder, it didn’t feel outside the realm of possibility. After a franchise-best 68-win season and some hard-fought playoff battles, OKC is now just 4 wins away from the Thunder’s first-ever NBA Championship.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA Finals Game 1 Preview: Indiana Pacers
The Oklahoma City’s winning streak came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night, as they fell to the Indiana Pacers 121-111. Despite another strong showing…
View More Thunder Stumble Against Pacers, Falling 121-111 – What Went Wrong?
Oklahoma City has covered the spread as an underdog consistently overall and on the road, but on top of that, history tells us this game will be close. In the last 4 meetings between the Thunder and the Raptors at Scotiabank Arena, the game has been decided by no more than 7 points. Based on that, the Thunder’s ability to cover the spread, and the Raptors’ struggles to cover at home, I think OKC will keep this one close.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | History Shows A Close Game in Toronto