Tyrese Haliburton was questionable all week, but on the biggest night of Indiana’s season, the Pacers’ leader suited up, and led them to a blowout win that extends the NBA Finals to a winner-take-all Game 7.
“We’ve got one game. One game,” Haliburton said after Indiana’s dominant 108–91 win over the Thunder. “It’s nothing that’s happened before matters, and nothing that’s going to happen after matters. It’s all about that one game. Just trying to approach it the right way for the next couple days.”
Indiana, down 3–2 entering Game 6, needed everything to go right.
What they got was a wire-to-wire performance fueled by urgency, energy, and their star guard.
“I just look at it as I want to be out there to compete with my brothers. These are guys that I’m willing to go to war with, and we’ve had such a special year, and we have a special bond as a group, and you know, I think I’d beat myself up if I didn’t give it a chance,” Haliburton said.
Haliburton finished with 14 points and five assists, but his presence alone ignited the Pacers.
Their 62–35 run through the second and third quarters buried Oklahoma City, whose starters sat the entire fourth.
“This is what it’s all about. I mean, this is … this is what you dream about growing up – this kind of opportunity,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said postgame.
Oklahoma City will host Game 7, but Indiana’s mindset couldn’t be clearer.
“It’s so, so exciting. As a basketball fan, there’s nothing like a Game 7,” Haliburton said. “Dreamed of being in this situation my whole life. What happened in the past doesn’t matter. What happened today doesn’t matter. It’s all about one game and approaching that the right way.”
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