Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder (Live on ABC/ESPN+)
1️⃣2️⃣ A dozen for SGA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads all scorers with 12 points (4-8 FG, 4-4 FT) as we reach the 7:00 mark in the second. The Thunder are still shooting at an efficient clip overall (44%) but are just 3-for-9 in the second.
SGA with a smooth stepback middy 🔥
The MVP’s up to 12 PTS so far in Game 7 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RPNMPTnaqM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 23, 2025
🌩️ Thunder lead after 1, Haliburton suffers apparent injury
Thunder 25, Pacers 22
The Thunder take a three-point lead into the second after strong opening periods from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso. Oklahoma City shot 50 percent from the floor and turned it over zero times in the opening stanza.
Game 7️⃣ workin’ pic.twitter.com/CN3aTSkmkC
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2025
For the Pacers, one storyline looms above all the others. Tyrese Haliburton, playing through a calf injury, appeared to aggravate the injury late in the first quarter and was helped off the floor.
Tyrese Haliburton has sufferred an apparent right leg injury.
The Pacers surrounded him as he was helped off the court 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2hiFxkWABU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 23, 2025
🔥Caruso smooth
Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso has provided the range tonight with a pair of triples off the bench. Caruso has added a steal as well in the early going.
Alex Caruso answers with his own triple 👌 pic.twitter.com/rQVp8jJDyU
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 23, 2025
🗣️ Hali Back
So far, so good for Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. The star guard is battling through a calf injury suffered in Game 5 but he’s looking no worse for wear thus far as he hit back-to-back threes to reclaim and extend the lead for Indiana.
Tyrese Haliburton buries his first of back-to-back threes 🎯 pic.twitter.com/d9sokdt2BS
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 23, 2025
Haliburton has nine points thus far. OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has answered with six as we reach the mid-way point of the opening period.
🏃 Off and running
Andrew Nembhard opens the Game 7 scoring with a midrange J to put the Pacers up early. The Pacers have an 11-8 lead as we get towards the middle of the first quarter in OKC.
NEMBHARD STARTS THE SCORING IN GAME 7 👏
WE’RE UNDERWAY ON ABC! pic.twitter.com/EcWkO8atgb
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
📊 Pacers vs Thunder matchup and lineups
Here we are. The two best words in sports. Game 7.
Few could have predicted this at the outset of this series, let alone at the beginning of the playoffs. The Thunder and Pacers took two very different routes to make it to the Finals, and together they have given hoops fans a series to remember.
⭐ The stars have shined
- This year’s Kia NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has lived up to the billing in the Finals, averaging 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
- Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had the iconic moment of iconic moments in Game 1, giving the Pacers their first lead of the game with under a second remaining. He has had a number of other incredible moments, but a calf strain in Game 5 put some concern regarding his status for the rest of the series. He suited up in the Game 6 win and is starting Game 7.
🦸♂ Heroes have emerged
- OKC’s Jalen Williams has been on the precipice of stardom and his 40-point game in Game 5 shows the level to which he can take his game. He’ll need to tap into that form tonight to give added support to SGA, who diverts plenty of attention from the Indiana defense.
- Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin dropped 27 points off the bench in a crucial Game 3 win at home.
- Other players like T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin for Indiana and Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein for Oklahoma City have all raised their games this series, among others. Luguentz Dort hit five triples in the series opener at home and gives incredible effort on the defensive end.
🔒 It all comes down to this
It’s Game 7. The six games have given both teams the different road maps they can follow to victory. The Pacers and Thunder know one another’s tendencies, rotations, and philosophies.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault have played a masterful chess match from the sidelines throughout the series as well.
It may be cliche, but Game 7 is about execution and dictating the tempo and style of the game. Whichever team can establish their brand of ball will have a distinct advantage, especially in the early going. Of course, when it comes to these two teams, we can feel confident that this one will be uber-competitive for all 48 minutes.
Pacers lineup
first five for Game 7. pic.twitter.com/onCJgxN8Bh
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 22, 2025
Thunder lineup
Our starting 5️⃣ for Game 7️⃣⚡️ pic.twitter.com/bOiUUkJkWb
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 22, 2025
Let’s sit back and enjoy the action. Catch the game live now on ABC.
🎥 Game 7 sights and sounds
OKC’s MVP, SGA, gears up for tonight’s Game 7 in front of the home crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 34.3 points per game at home this series.
Shai’s getting ready for #NBAFinals action ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/d7C25kBjeG
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 22, 2025
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton is testing out his range in pregame warmups ahead of tonight’s battle in OKC.
TYRESE HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS AHEAD OF GAME 7 🔥
Can he lead IND to their first title in FRANCHISE HISTORY???
🏆 8 PM ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/fTh8JUmJze
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2025
Indiana’s Obi Toppin and his daughter share a moment before the big game.
a special moment before Game 7 for Obi and his daughter, Remi 💛 pic.twitter.com/qWccsZWxyw
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 22, 2025
Watch the live warmups ahead of go-time
Tyrese.
Shai.
Who will capture their first NBA Championship tonight?!
Watch the two star guards warm up before the WINNER-TAKE-ALL GAME 7 at 8pm/et on ABC 🏆🚨
(music by @unitedmasters) https://t.co/3M9BBxAC6a
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2025
OKC’s fans have been here from the jump, now they get to see Game 7 on their home turf.
From the beginning of the season to Game 7, it’s always all love in Loud City 💙 pic.twitter.com/pc1vTK9sfU
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 22, 2025
🗝️ Pacers vs Thunder Game 7 key storylines
- Winner take all: The NBA Finals are going to Game 7 for the first time since the epic finish to the 2016 Finals between the Cavaliers and Warriors. This series has been unbelievable with several clutch moments by the biggest players in the biggest moments. With all the drama throughout the series, it’s only fitting that this NBA Finals is going to Game 7.
- OKC must shake off Game 6: The fact that the series is going back to Game 7 is not bothersome for the Thunder. It’s been a competitive series throughout, and winning in Indiana to close it out was always going to be a tall task. However, the way Game 6 unfolded where Indiana took control in the second quarter and didn’t let up until late in the fourth is something that the Thunder must avoid. The Thunder trailed by as many 31 as momentum swung entirely in Indiana’s favor. That may be unlikely to happen again in front of the home crowd, but Game 6 was another reminder that the Thunder must play their best for 48 minutes against this Pacers team.
- Can Indiana do it one more time? Indiana has defied the odds and doubters all postseason long. When it won Game 1 in Cleveland, many wondered if the Pacers could do it again. When Indiana finished the top-seeded Cavs in just five games, many thought the run would end against the Knicks. And surely when the Pacers outlasted the Knicks, it would be nearly impossible to replicate that success against the Western Conference’s top dog, the Thunder, right? For each moment that the Pacers have been doubted by the masses, they have responded emphatically. Pushing the NBA Finals to Game 7 is an accomplishment in and of itself, but finishing it off on the road is a whole other level. Tonight, we will see if Indiana can answer the bell one last time.
NBA Finals central
