One Win Away! OKC on Verge Of NBA Finals Title; Can The Pacers Reply?

Melissa Rohlin

FOX Sports activities NBA Author

The NBA Finals are right here, with West No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on the cusp of beating East No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers and lifting their first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy.

The Thunder, now forward 3-2, simply want yet another win to clinch their first ever NBA championship, and might achieve this in Recreation 6 on Thursday in Indiana.

This is what has stood out from Monday’s Recreation 5 and what to anticipate from Recreation 6:

Recreation 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109

What stood out for the Thunder: It regarded like the identical outdated script. After main by as a lot as 18 factors, the Pacers, who’ve shined all through the postseason with their unimaginable comeback performances, minimize their deficit to only two factors with 8:30 left, 95-93. However this time round, the Thunder stood their floor, with Jalen Williams making a 3-pointer and Cason Wallace including a dunk. The Thunder went on to increase their result in as a lot as 16 factors, rapidly stymying each push Indiana made. OKC pressured Indiana to commit eight turnovers within the ultimate 12 minutes whereas solely fumbling the ball as soon as themselves. Williams had the sport of his life, ending with a playoff career-high 40 factors in 35 minutes on 14-for-25 taking pictures from the sector, together with 3-for-5 from past the arc. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 factors, 10 assists, two steals and 4 blocked photographs. The Thunder are actually just one victory away from profitable the NBA championship.

What stood out for the Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, who was reportedly battling calf tightness in his proper leg, had solely 4 factors, taking pictures a woeful 0-for-6 from the sector. Nonetheless, the Pacers clawed their means again into the sport, with their bench outsourcing the Thunder’s reserves within the third quarter, 20-0. Within the fourth quarter, the Pacers outshot the Thunder from the sector, 66.7 p.c to 42.3 p.c, and from past the arc, 60 p.c to 50 p.c, however the Pacers tried solely 15 subject objectives whereas the Thunder took 26 photographs. Pascal Siakam, who had 14 of his team-high 28 factors within the ultimate 12 minutes, didn’t have sufficient assist to steer his group to a different miracle win, with the Pacers’ subsequent highest scorer within the fourth quarter, Aaron Nesmith, solely including 5 factors. In the meantime, 5 Pacers gamers completed with no less than one turnover within the fourth quarter.

Tyrese Haliburton, who reportedly had discomfort in his proper calf, might want to reply after a woeful night time. (Photograph by Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)

What to anticipate in Recreation 6: Haliburton’s harm standing goes to be an important storyline heading into Thursday’s contest. The Pacers are going to wish him to be wholesome to cease the Thunder from profitable their first title since 1979. One other key level of focus for Indiana must be defending the ball. They dedicated 23 turnovers, greater than twice as many because the Thunder (11). As for the Thunder, they’re a fairly powerful group to cease when each Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander are rolling they usually proved that they will face up to the Pacers’ late-game runs. Their greatest focus heading into Recreation 6 must be persevering with to play all 48 minutes as a result of, as they’ve realized all through this collection, they will’t afford to chill out in opposition to Indiana.

Recreation 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104

What stood out for the Thunder: The Thunder went on a 12-1 run within the ultimate three minutes to show a seven-point fourth quarter deficit right into a win, tying the collection at 2-2. The Thunder didn’t lead within the second half till Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a Michael Jordan-esque 15-foot stepback jumper with 2:23 left to offer them a 104-103 benefit. After that, the Thunder took management down the stretch whereas the Pacers went fully dry from the sector. Gilgeous-Alexander led the cost, scoring 15 of his game-high 35 factors within the fourth quarter, together with making all eight of his free-throw makes an attempt within the ultimate 12 minutes. In the meantime, Bennedict Mathurin, who led the Pacers in Recreation 3 with a game-high 27 factors, missed three pricey free throws within the ultimate 24 seconds.

What stood out for the Pacers: The Pacers, who’ve been recognized for his or her late-game heroics this postseason, let the sport slip by way of their fingers, turning what might’ve been a 3-1 benefit right into a tied collection heading again to Oklahoma Metropolis. The Pacers held the Thunder to 3-for-17 taking pictures (17.6 p.c) from past the arc whereas making greater than thrice (11) of their photographs from that distance. However the Pacers allowed the Thunder to storm again into the sport – they had been outshot 60 p.c to 27.8 p.c within the fourth quarter they usually missed all eight of their 3-point makes an attempt. Just one Pacers participant (Pascal Siakam) scored 20 factors, whereas three Thunder gamers completed with no less than that quantity, together with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso.

Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers could not end out the night time with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander main the Thunder to a Recreation 4 win. (Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs)

What to anticipate in Recreation 5: This a lot is for positive: It’s going to be a dogfight. Recreation 4 had 11 ties and 6 lead adjustments. And now that each groups are on even taking part in floor, I count on issues to get much more intense on this already thrilling collection. For the Thunder, they’re going to wish to enhance their 3-point taking pictures and deal with being the aggressors from tipoff on Monday. As for the Pacers, they had been dealt a dose of their very own drugs and now understand they will’t chill out in opposition to the Thunder, who completed with the very best report within the league within the common season and have the MVP on their roster in Gilgeous-Alexander. Tyrese Haliburton, whose buzzer-beaters and go-ahead photographs have been the discuss of the postseason, must be far more aggressive in Recreation 5. He had solely 18 factors, took simply 15 photographs and was 1-for-7 from past the arc. That’s not going to chop it for the Pacers from their star participant.

Recreation 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

What stood out for the Pacers: The Pacers have quite a bit to have fun of their first Finals recreation at dwelling in 25 years contemplating the next stat: When a championship collection is tied at 1-1, the group that wins Recreation 3 goes on to win the title 80 p.c of the time.

For Indiana, their bench was the difference-maker, outscoring the Thunder’s reserves, 49-18. Bennedict Mathurin, whom the Pacers chosen because the sixth total decide within the 2022 draft, had a game-high 27 factors in 22 minutes off the bench, taking pictures 9-for-12 from the sector, 2-for-3 from past the arc and making 7 of his eight free-throw makes an attempt. T.J. McConnell additionally had a serious affect off the bench, ending with 10 factors and 5 steals in quarter-hour.

In the meantime, Tyrese Haliburton, who struggled in Recreation 2 with simply 17 factors, had a whole efficiency in Recreation 3, ending only one rebound shy of a triple-double with 22 factors, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. Pascal Siakam added 21 factors on 8-for-14 taking pictures to spherical out the whole group effort for the Pacers on each ends of the court docket.

Tyrese Haliburton completed Wednesday night time one rebound shy of a triple-double. (Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs)

What stood out for the Thunder: Whereas the Thunder’s protection has deservedly gotten plenty of reward, contemplating it has led the league in each the common season and postseason, this recreation highlighted the Pacers’ swarming effort on that finish of the court docket. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 36 factors in Video games 1 and a pair of, was held to only 24 factors on 9-for-20 taking pictures, together with going 1-for-3 from past the arc in Recreation 3. The Pacers pressured the Thunder to commit 19 turnovers, on which Indiana scored 21 factors. Regardless that the Thunder outrebounded the Pacers, 42-36, and outshot them from past the arc, 45.5 p.c to 33.3 p.c, the Pacers managed the physicality, tempo they usually merely had extra gamers shine within the first recreation of the collection on their homecourt.

What to anticipate in Recreation 4: For the Thunder, they’re going to wish to manage the tempo, restrict the quantity of Pacers gamers that get scorching and Gilgeous-Alexander goes to wish to have an MVP-level efficiency to stop them from falling right into a 3-1 collection gap. For the Pacers, they stored their cool in a recreation with 9 lead adjustments and 15 ties, with guys who don’t usually have eye-popping stats stepping up in a serious means on the largest of phases. If the Pacers’ bench can proceed to roll like this, they’re going to be a really, very powerful group to cease, particularly on their dwelling flooring.

Recreation 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

What stood out for the Thunder: The Thunder realized their lesson from Recreation 1 and performed all 48 minutes of Recreation 2 after blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead within the Finals opener. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 33-21 within the second quarter to steer by as a lot as 23 factors, entered the fourth quarter with a 19-point lead and stored a large benefit by way of the ultimate buzzer. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one other 30-plus level efficiency within the championship spherical, ending with 34 factors, 5 rebounds, eight assists and 4 steals. However this time round, he had far more assist, with the Thunder’s reserves outscoring the Pacers’ bench, 48-34. The Thunder’s top-rated protection suffocated the Pacers’ offense. 4 Thunder gamers scored no less than 18 factors, whereas nobody on the Pacers scored greater than 17 factors.

What stood out for the Pacers: The Pacers had been outrebounded, 43-35, and outscored in factors within the paint, 42-34. Tyrese Haliburton had simply 17 factors, together with solely scoring three factors within the first half on 1-for-5 taking pictures from the sector. The Pacers merely regarded out of types in opposition to a Thunder group that was surprised in Recreation 1 and made positive to come back out with their foot on the gasoline on each ends of the court docket in Recreation 2. Each run the Pacers went on was thwarted by the Thunder, who made positive to not enable the come-from-behind group to take a 2-0 collection lead on their dwelling court docket.

Tyrese Haliburton had a game-high 5 turnovers in Recreation 2. (Photograph by Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)

What to anticipate in Recreation 3: For the Pacers, right here’s to betting Haliburton and Co. come out far more aggressive in Recreation 3. There’s no means the Pacers’ star participant can end with simply two extra subject objectives (seven) than turnovers (5) and the Jap Convention Finals MVP, Pascal Siakam, can have 15 factors on 3-for-11 taking pictures and this group can count on to have an opportunity to win. The Pacers have to pound the boards and work out methods to seek out their lanes in opposition to the Thunder’s swarming protection. As for the Thunder, they should attempt to replicate this wall-to-wall effort in Recreation 3, realizing that no lead is ever secure in opposition to the Pacers, particularly on their dwelling flooring. The Thunder did an incredible job getting a number of gamers concerned, together with reserve Alex Caruso, who shined on each ends of the court docket with nice protection in addition to being the group’s second-leading scorer with 20 factors, making 4 3-pointers.

Recreation 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

What stood out for the Thunder: Oklahoma Metropolis realized an important lesson in Recreation 1 of the Finals. No. Lead. Is. Protected. Towards. The. Pacers. Ever. The Pacers, who’ve had a number of historic comebacks this postseason, pulled off the unbelievable once more, storming again from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to take their first lead of the sport with 0.3 seconds left after Tyrese Haliburton made a 21-foot pullup jumper to stun the Thunder and their sold-out crowd at Paycom Middle. This was the final word wake-up name for the Thunder, who held management for over 47 minutes, behind a 38-point efficiency from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored twice as many factors as every other participant on the court docket. However Haliburton, who has made a reputation for himself this postseason with three buzzer-beaters and go-ahead buckets heading into the Finals, made the Thunder his newest sufferer.

What stood out for the Pacers: Whereas Haliburton’s late-game heroics have already grow to be playoff lore, it might be good if he and his group weren’t in that place. The Pacers had a whopping 25 turnovers whereas the Thunder solely had seven. Additionally they had 16 fewer subject purpose makes an attempt than the Thunder. For a lot of the sport, the Pacers struggled to generate a lot offense in opposition to the swarming Thunder protection, with no participant on Indiana even scoring 20 factors. Regardless that the Thunder solely led by as a lot as 15 factors, it appeared as if their lead was twice as giant for a lot of the sport — till the fourth quarter when the comeback kings did what they do finest.

Tyrese Haliburton capped off one more unbelievable postseason comeback for the Pacers. (Photograph by William Purnell/Getty Photographs)

What to anticipate in Recreation 2: For the Thunder, they’ve clearly realized that they should play all 48 minutes in opposition to this Pacers group, which has made it very clear that they by no means stop. They can not enable the Pacers to go on heaters late within the recreation, similar to after they went on a 12-2 fourth-quarter run to chop their 15-point deficit to only 4 factors. If the Pacers are inside hanging distance, the opposing group is in hassle. As for the Pacers, whereas Haliburton is as soon as once more the hero of the playoffs, he solely scored 14 factors. He must be far more aggressive offensively for the Pacers to keep away from needing to depend on a buzzer-beater. In the meantime, the Pacers did an incredible job dominating the boards, the place that they had a 56-39 benefit. If they will get fewer turnovers and Haliburton will get going early, they may very well be in a special place in Recreation 2.

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Comply with her on Twitter @melissarohlin.