Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) excessive fives guard Alex Caruso (9) throughout the second quarter of recreation 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Heart. Necessary Credit score: Kyle Terada-Imagn Photographs
One win away from the primary NBA title in franchise historical past, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder coach Mark Daigneault believes preparation for Recreation 6 of the Finals on Thursday night time at Indianapolis boils all the way down to how the opposite sneaker suits.
“We’re all the time attempting to place ourselves in our opponent’s footwear,” Daigneault mentioned of Oklahoma Metropolis’s focus with a 3-2 lead within the best-of-seven collection forward of the primary elimination recreation of the NBA Finals.
READ: NBA Finals: Jalen Williams’ resilience helps Thunder regain footing
“Zero and nil mindset. We’re not introducing any new ideas proper now, we’re simply counting on the psychological habits we’ve constructed over time.”
Perspective may be tougher for Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle as his squad faces the duty of trying to win two consecutive video games towards the Thunder with All-Star level guard Tyrese Haliburton at lower than full energy.
Carlise mentioned Wednesday will probably be late afternoon or early night Thursday earlier than the Pacers have a sensible really feel for what Haliburton can contribute as Indiana makes an attempt to ship the collection again to Oklahoma Metropolis for Recreation 7 on Sunday night time.
READ: NBA Finals: Thunder’s moments of adversity paid off in Recreation 4
He participated in walkthrough Wednesday, however the 30-minute session concerned no “actual operating” by Carlisle’s evaluation.
“I feel it depends upon who you ask. I’ve to know the dangers, ask the best questions,” Haliburton mentioned of how he’ll resolve to play. “However I’m a competitor. I need to play. I’m going to do the whole lot in my energy to play.”
Haliburton scored 22 factors and was one rebound shy of a triple-double in Indiana’s Recreation 3 victory on June 11.
Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) walks again to the crew bench within the first quarter towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder throughout recreation 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Heart. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photographs
Since that win, a calf pressure has hampered his efficiency, which adopted a tweaked ankle in Recreation 2.
As Oklahoma Metropolis turned a 2-1 collection deficit to a 3-2 benefit, Haliburton has struggled from the sector, hitting simply 7 of 21 photographs from the sector over the previous two video games, together with a 1-for-11 clip from 3-point vary. He has totaled simply 22 factors in 70 minutes.
“You don’t underestimate nice gamers. Within the case that he performs, we’re anticipating his greatest punch,” Daigneault mentioned. “You don’t underestimate nice groups. Within the occasion he doesn’t play, we’re anticipating Indiana’s greatest.”
Heroes of the collection emerged from nearly each section of the rotation.
Haliburton’s near-triple-double in Recreation 3 was underscored by Indiana’s 49 bench factors, 27 from Bennedict Mathurin and 5 steals from T.J. McConnell. Andrew Nembhard shifted to level guard in Haliburton’s place within the Japanese Convention semifinals final yr, when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 collection deficit to beat the Knicks in Video games 6 and seven.
“I feel clearly Tyrese is a giant a part of what we do. Whether or not he performs or not, I feel it’s going to be a crew factor,” Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam mentioned. “We’ve got to collectively all step up. The significance of the sport, we simply all need to take a step ahead. It’s going to be down the road.
“I don’t assume any one among us ought to really feel like one particular person goes to need to do it. It’s going to be collective.”
Siakam put up 28 factors and stepped up within the fourth quarter of Recreation 5 with out Haliburton. Extra of the identical is so as if the Pacers want to sustain with OKC’s 1-2 punch.
Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a mixed 66 factors in Video games 4 and 5. However the nationwide highlight has been shared with Oklahoma Metropolis’s Jalen Williams, who tallied 67 factors over the identical span, together with a 40-point outburst in Recreation 5 with the Pacers setting a protection decided to assist and power the ball out of SGA’s fingers.
“It makes me sound like a jerk,” Williams mentioned of not answering his telephone the previous week to maintain the concentrate on profitable a title. “An enormous factor for us — we’ve accomplished a very good job of specializing in us.”
Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned being “on the cusp of profitable will not be profitable, and the best way I see it, profitable is all that issues.” He credited the group for constructing the tradition and setting to make the Thunder a marvel of a turnaround story.
He mentioned he’s buoyed at this level within the season by the closeness of the locker room and the way a lot enjoyable your complete crew is having.
“Specializing in Recreation 6,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Specializing in simply being the very best model of myself for this basketball crew for no matter it takes — nevertheless many video games it’s, nevertheless many possessions are wanted, nevertheless many moments. Keep within the second, and simply attempt to follow that script.”
Oklahoma Metropolis led 3-2 within the Western Convention semifinals and misplaced Recreation 6 to Denver earlier than a dramatic effort to take Recreation 7. Williams mentioned Oklahoma Metropolis didn’t “come out able to play” in that Recreation 6.
Carlisle mentioned the Pacers are leaning on the expertise of trailing the Knicks 3-2 final summer season, when Gainbridge Fieldhouse was an energy-feeding benefit for Recreation 6.
“Buckle down, stand sturdy,” Carlisle mentioned of his message to the crew.
However with SGA and Williams each averaging over 30 factors per recreation the final three video games, Oklahoma Metropolis expects nothing lower than greatness on Thursday.
“Many of the nice gamers are artwork. They’re unbelievably distinctive,” Daigneault mentioned. “That’s each nice participant. Siakam is like that. Haliburton is like that. They’re one among one. All the good gamers are. … They’re nice gamers, however they do it contained in the crew (idea) and don’t suffocate the crew.”
Daigneault isn’t but speaking particularly in regards to the spoils at stake Thursday night time.
“We’ve tried to take a stack mindset to the whole lot we’ve accomplished. Even when the crew was rebuilding. You may’t skip steps within the course of,” Daigneault mentioned. “We need to win the sport tomorrow.
“However an important factor we are able to do is put together immediately, put together tomorrow. Play the primary possession rather well. After which the following possession. Win immediately. The minute you begin to drift mentally into the longer term and into the previous, it impacts your potential to stack the following factor.”
