The NBA Finals is going to a Game 7 for the first time in nine years, and just the eighth time since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976. The matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers was immediately derided by the public for its small markets and lack of household-name superstars, but this series has been a basketball diehard’s nirvana. The season ends on Sunday night, June 22, in Oklahoma City either way when the Pacers and Thunder play one game for the championship.
The Thunder had a chance to win their first ring in franchise history (no, we’re not counting Seattle’s 1979 championship) in Game 6 on Thursday night. With Tyrese Haliburton hobbled by a calf injury that would keep him out multiple weeks if this were the regular season, an OKC coronation seemed all but inevitable. Instead, the Pacers roared back to life with the most dominant performance of the series, smothering the Thunder offense and running away with a blowout victory.
Indiana’s 108-91 win over the Thunder in Game 6 sets the stage for a thrilling series conclusion. Oklahoma City was a massive favorite entering the NBA Finals with -700 odds to win in most sportsbooks, but the Pacers continue to prove their remarkable resilience and refusal to do what everyone expects. Game 7 could be an instant classic.
Game 7s are often weird. The pressure of the moment feels suffocating until everyone can settle in. The Thunder have already survived one Game 7 on this playoff run with a win over the Denver Nuggets in the second round. The Pacers’ playoff run has been defined by ridiculous comebacks and an unbreakable resolve. Haliburton’s Game 1 buzzer-beater in the NBA Finals set the tone for this series, and these two teams continue to deliver.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that this series has produced fantastic basketball. The Thunder’s historically elite defense vs. the Pacers’ excellent offense was always the foundation for a tremendous matchup. The Thunder had the look of an all-time great team entering the playoffs, with a 68-14 regular season record (tied for the fifth-most wins in NBA history) and the second-best net-rating ever behind the 1996 Chicago Bulls. The Pacers started the season 9-14, but they were the best team in the East after the calendar flipped to 2025. Their playoff run has been magical, with role players like Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and T.J. McConnell taking their games to new heights, and Haliburton delivering in the clutch time after time.
If the Thunder win Game 7, it will mark the start of a potential dynasty, with a young trio of stars in league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 years old), Jalen Williams (24), and Chet Holmgren (23) all just scratching the surface of their potential. The Thunder’s role players have been every bit as critical on this run, and Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Hartenstein will have to come through on the biggest stage possible.
The Pacers winning Game 7 would mark one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets ever. No one gave Indiana a chance to even win the East, but the Pacers’ ultra up-tempo style has exhausted opponents at every stop of this run. Indiana was No. 17 in the preseason championship odds even after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Now they are one win away from their first NBA championship after three ABA championships.
The two winners of an NBA Finals Game 7 were originally down 3-2 in the series. The Cleveland Cavaliers won one of the most iconic championships in NBA history in 2016 when they came back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors. The 2010 Los Angeles Lakers trailed the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the NBA Finals before winning the last two games behind fantastic performances from Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
Game 7 is going to be incredible. Here are our staff predictions for when the Thunder and Pacers tip-off on Sunday, June 22, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Ricky O’Donnell: Thunder
Mookie Alexander: Thunder
Jacolby Hart: Pacers
Mark Schofield: Thunder
David Fucillo: Pacers
Jared Mueller: Thunder
JP Acosta: Thunder
Noa Dalzell: Pacers
Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals Game 7 date, time, TV, and more
What: NBA Finals Game 7 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers
Date: June 22
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Streaming: Watch ESPN
Location: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
Give us your Game 7 predictions in the comments
Thunder or Pacers: who you got? Drop a comment below to let us know.
