Pacers vs Thunder – Games 6: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview

Pacers take on Thunder in their last game of the season in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They've suffered two successive defeats for the first time this postseason and will try their hardest to force Game 7 in Oklahoma.

On the other hand, the Thunder are 3:2 up and have a chance to wrap their first chip in almost 50 years on the wings of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They seem to have found a recipe for Indiana, whose stalwart Tyrese Haliburton is a doubt for the game.

Will Pacers Prolong the Series?

Indiana didn't look itself in the last game. Although one could get a Game 1 comeback vibe in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Pacers didn't have it in them this time.

Halliburton was perhaps the worst offender stats-wise. Playing through calf pain for the better part of the second half, he finished the game with only 4 points and 0 for six from the field. Pascal Siakam led the team with 28, followed by T.J. McConnell's 14.

If they are to prolong this series, the Pacers must come flying right out of the gate. They lost four of the five first quarters in these finals, and I feel they must put a stamp on the game early on. Save the heart-pounding comeback for Game 7.

Pacers Team News

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a calf strain, and despite encouraging words from the man himself and his teammates, the point guard's involvement in Game 6 remains a doubt. Jarace Walker and Isaiah Jackson are also out.

Thunder Game Set

The OKC Thunder is a win away from winning the NBA ring, the city's first since 1979 when the team was called Seattle SuperSonics.

Simply put, they took care of business in Game 5. Jalen Williams went ballistic with a playoff career-high 40 points . SGA was his usual self with 31, while the duo of Lu Dort and Caruso put up spectacular defensive displays worthy of the NBA's top 5 plays of the night.

Mark Daigneault was right when he said his team is learning with every game and that the finals will be won by whoever mops up their mistakes better. By the early looks of things, that's the Thunder.

Thunder Team News

Nikola Topic remains the only injured player for OKC in these finals. The young Serb suffered an ACL tear before last year's NBA Draft that kept him out of action for the entire season.

Pacers vs Thunder Prediction

We're still in the dark about whether Halliburton will feature on Friday and, if so, to what extent. That's why I'm reluctant to crown the winner of Game 6 and rather look at players.

One player in particular—Pascal Siakam. The three-time NBA All-Star will have to be his scoring best for the Pacers to stand a chance or at least go out swinging. I'm backing Siakam to have a monster Friday night.

CryptoGamba tip: Pascal Siakam to score over 21.5 points – 1.98 @BetPanda