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Indiana Pacers enter into Thursday evening’s game against Oklahoma City Thunder on the brink of elimination.
Thunder defeated Pacers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 NBA Finals Series lead. Even if the Pacers are able to avert elimination on Thursday, Game 6 marks the last NBA playing game this year played in Indianapolis. The series would switch back to Oklahoma City to Game 7, if necessary.
Several hours before the game 6 tilted off, Pacers shared a rally shout with the team’s supporters. “Once again, Indiana,” Pacers wrote on X on Thursday morning.
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June 13, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana; Indiana Pacers fans waves towels during the third quarter of the game four of the 2025 NBA final against Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Published Pictures)
“This is it – the last home game of the season. One last chance to fight. To believe,” reads a graphic that was sent to Pacers Social Media account. “Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been electric all year, but this time we get higher. Wilder. More merciless than ever. We bring the chaos from the opening tip to the last sum. Because tonight we leave it all out there.”
Indiana Pacers laid t-shirts to fans before the game against Oklahoma City Thunder during match three of the 2025 NBA final on June 11, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (AJ MAST/NBAE via Getty Images)
Pacers then called on fans to create a violent atmosphere by getting up and waving with their yellow towels. “So get on your feet. Wave these towels. Be dominant. Be deafening and above all … Faith.”
Pacers said the team will “fight to see another day.”
Meanwhile, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is fighting through a strained right calf. Even when the start of Game 6 is velted, Haliburton’s status for tonight remains a question mark.
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“I think I’ll be as smart as I want to be,” the star guard said Wednesday. “Must understand the risk, ask the right questions. I am a competitor. I will play. I will do all I can to play. That’s exactly what it is.”
Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) goes back to the team bench in the first quarter against Oklahoma City Thunder during match five of the 2025 NBA final in the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams Preferred Pictures)
Meanwhile, Thunder Super Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at the forefront of an almost unprecedented season when it comes to individual honors.
He is right now the favorite to win the NBA Finals MVP. He has already won the NBA MVP award for this season, which means he could be the first double MVP since LeBron James did so with Miami in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Gilgeous-Alexander also took NBA’s scoring title this last season.
Thursday is also the 25th anniversary of the end of Indiana’s latest performance in the NBA final before this season.
