This is it. It all comes down to this. The Oklahoma City Thunder are hosting the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Tonight, a champion will be crowned. It’s the 20th instance where the Finals have gone the distance. The way this series has gone, it’s anyone’s game. Will it be the Indian Pacers taking down the 68-win juggernaut, or will the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the cherry on top for the Thunder’s dominant season? Let’s jump straight into Game 7!

Series Recap

For a series I expected to be over by now, I have been impressed with the Pacers’ resiliency. In Game 1 of the Finals, the Thunder looked to pull away in the 4th quarter with a 15-point lead. Indiana would come back to steal home court at the buzzer. The Pacers would go on to lead the series 2-1 after Game 3. Then, in Game 4, the Pacers were in firm control, up seven in the 4th, but SGA scored 15 of the Thunder’s last 16 points to tie the Finals 2-2. The Thunder once again jumped out to a big lead, and Indy almost came back but couldn’t close the deal in Game 5.

Down 3-2, Indiana found itself in a position it hadn’t been in this postseason. In a game where their season was on the line. In Game 6, the Pacers dominated the OKC Thunder flatly. The final score, 108-91, doesn’t accurately describe how much of a blowout it was. With Tyrese Haliburton going into the game with a calf strain, Indy defended home court and forced Game 7.

Positives for the Thunder

For the Thunder, they have been in a series just like this. Against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, that series was oddly similar. Lost the first game at the buzzer, then a blowout win in Game 2, lost going away in Game 3, a narrow clutch win in Game 4, a comfortable win in Game 5, and a blowout loss in Game 6. How did that Game 7 go? OKC won, 125-93, and were up by 43 in the fourth. Does that mean they will dominate in that fashion tonight? No. However, this season has seen a series play out like this one has.

As for the players, no one before this run had much championship experience outside of Alex Caruso. With this team being so young, we don’t know how they will come out in the opening minutes. There’s an old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” This team has no idea how they will react to the atmosphere in the opening tip. They can rely on the Thunder faithful to use them as a crutch, in a sense. If OKC comes out the gate on fire or aggressive, be mindful of how loud your TV is.

Positives for the Pacers

The biggest positive for this Pacer team might not be anything related to their scheme or experience. They are entering Game 7 as free as a team can be in a must-win game. All the pressure is on the Thunder. OKC is the team that won 68 games in the regular season, the team with the MVP, and the best team all season long. If there is ever a team that can play a Game 7 with an abundance of freeness, it’s this team.

Player-wise, monitor how Haliburton looks in his movement and how his “first step” looks. If he can review how he performed in his last game, expect a solid night. In terms of his co-stars, Pascal Siakam has carried the bulk of the load scoring-wise. A big question mark for this game is whether Myles Turner will finally return to form. He was solid in Game 1 with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Since then, he has been a non-factor on offense. His scoring will be needed to pull off a Game 7 upset on the road.

X-Factors for Game 7

Let’s start with the home team. I am putting the spotlight on Chet Holmgren tonight. Despite having a few strong performances, he has been very inefficient, especially shooting from deep. For the series, Holmgren is shooting 2/17 from three, which is 12%. His lack of consistency from three-point range specifically hurts him due to his frame. I’m not saying he’s weak, but his slender frame makes it difficult for him to score down low against players like Turner and Siakam.

For the Pacers, TJ McConnell will be as critical in this game as he has been all series long. In Game 3, he was one of the significant contributors to Indy taking a 2-1 lead. Then, fast-forward to Games 5 and 6, and he has been excellent, averaging 15 points, 6.5 rebounds, five assists, and three steals per game over that stretch. When Haliburton leaves the floor, or if his calf gets hampered, all eyes are on McConnell.

Prediction & Final Thoughts

For the last game of the NBA Finals and the NBA season, tonight, a champion will be crowned. For one team, it was a joyous celebration. For the other, it was heartbreak and defeat. I am riding and predicting the Indiana Pacers will defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 tonight. With all the pressure on OKC, history tells us Game 7 of the Finals will be a two-possession game at or around the one-minute mark in the fourth. That scenario favors the Pacers. This is truly a battle of the Titans. The Thunder have been great at home, and the Pacers have been great on the road.

It is symbolic for the NBA Finals to go to a Game 7. It is the two best words in sports. It has made careers and ensured that role players are remembered for a lifetime. This has been a great season with many twists and turns. We will see the two best teams do battle tonight. Who will step up to capture their franchise’s first NBA Title? Who do you have winning tonight? Check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! Thank you for reading, and I look forward to speaking with you all again soon.