Recreation 7s are the moments the place legends are made.
These are the video games — with little margin for error and all the pieces on the road — that go down within the annals of historical past, significantly at this stage of the playoffs when they’re uncommon. For the reason that NBA-ABA merger at the beginning of the 1976-77 season, there have been solely eight winner-take-all video games to resolve the NBA title.
Sunday evening will see that quantity develop to 9, when the host Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers sq. off in Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals — the primary time that the league’s championship spherical has gone the gap since 2016. That sport is, at a minimal, on the quick checklist for the best sport within the historical past of the game, with LeBron James main the Cleveland Cavaliers again from a 3-1 deficit within the best-of-7 collection to dethrone the 73-win Golden State Warriors on their house flooring.
The Thunder have been ready for his or her first title since they left Seattle for Oklahoma Metropolis 17 years in the past. The franchise has left the SuperSonics’ historical past up to now. Nonetheless, after a number of near-misses — together with an NBA Finals journey in 2012 and convention finals appearances in 2014 and 2016 — Oklahoma Metropolis had the seventh-most wins in NBA historical past (68) this season. It will likely be the fifth-best staff, by way of wins, within the historical past of the game if the Thunder can declare this 12 months’s title.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in the meantime, would put himself in rarified air if he is capable of win a championship after profitable the scoring title and the league’s regular-season MVP award — one thing solely Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have completed.
It is a second the Thunder had been anticipated to be in all season. The identical can’t be stated for his or her opponents, nonetheless, as a win for Indiana will cap what must be some of the surprising runs to a championship within the NBA. The Pacers have accomplished one historic comeback in every of the 4 rounds of the playoffs, together with star guard Tyrese Haliburton finishing an unparalleled run of clutch shotmaking to go together with Indiana’s penchant for carrying down its opponents.
Coach Rick Carlisle, who led a equally constructed Dallas Mavericks staff to a title in opposition to an enormous favourite within the James-led Miami Heat in 2011, has already gained seven video games within the Finals as an underdog, essentially the most in NBA historical past.
Indiana would additionally earn its first NBA championship after making the Finals with Reggie Miller main the best way 25 years in the past. It gained a few ABA championships behind Corridor of Famers Mel Daniels and Roger Brown within the Seventies.
The Pacers and Thunder will sit 48 minutes away from immortality after they take the courtroom Sunday evening. Just one factor is for sure: No matter occurs, the sport will by no means be forgotten. — Tim Bontemps
Keys to the game | Impact players | Game 7 legacy
Matchups and adjustments | MVP Odds
History | Best bets | Expert picks
MORE: Schedule and news | Offseason guide
The largest keys for the Thunder: House-court benefit
Give the house crowd a motive to remain loud. The Thunder earned the best to host an important sport of the season by rolling to 68 wins and the perfect document within the league. The Paycom Middle has been an awfully robust place for opponents to play this postseason.
The Thunder are 10-2 at house with 9 double-digit wins, together with victories by 30- and 32-point margins in elimination video games the previous two rounds.
The followers in Oklahoma Metropolis — a small market with just one big-league franchise — present a real home-court benefit that Jalen Williams has in comparison with a highschool soccer powerhouse, the form of program that a complete city revolves round. The stands shall be full of of us carrying the identical T-shirts by the point the layup traces start. They’re going to be loud, offering the Thunder “the wind behind our backs,” as coach Mark Daigneault places it. — Tim MacMahon
The largest keys for the Pacers: Managed chaos
Restrict turnovers and management the tempo. It is simpler stated than completed in opposition to a protection as swarming because the Thunder’s, however the Pacers have been at their greatest after they’ve managed to win the turnover battle and cease Oklahoma Metropolis from getting out in transition.
The outcomes are twofold. Not turning the ball over permits the Pacers to try extra subject objectives as an alternative of coming away with empty possessions and it stops the Thunder from getting straightforward transition baskets, which makes their offense thrive.
The Pacers need a chaotic sport managed of their favor, much like Recreation 6, when Indiana was the staff flying across the flooring whereas Oklahoma Metropolis bought stagnant making an attempt to run an offense within the half courtroom repeatedly. — Jamal Collier
Gamers who will swing Recreation 7
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Alex Caruso is the one confirmed NBA champion on the Thunder’s roster, the veteran leader of this team and a participant who was a dominant power in Oklahoma Metropolis’s earlier Recreation 7 win in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.
Caruso wreaked havoc as the first defender in opposition to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic that afternoon, a significant component within the 23 turnovers that the Thunder transformed into 37 factors. He was a plus-40 in 26 minutes.
He is one of many hardest rivals within the NBA, a man who lives for this kind of highest-stakes state of affairs. Caruso has had his fingerprints throughout Oklahoma Metropolis’s playoff run up to now. Rely on that persevering with in Recreation 7. — MacMahon
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers’ depth has been their energy all through this playoff run and T.J. McConnell has stepped up with a implausible efficiency on this collection. His high-energy type for 19 minutes per sport has offered a spark in every contest he checks into, and he is averaging 11.3 factors and 4.5 assists within the collection on 54% taking pictures.
Haliburton performed by means of a calf harm in a high-stakes Recreation 6 and was efficient, however not as cellular as regular, which suggests the Pacers are going to wish quite a lot of ball handlers to assist maintain their tempo and run their offense.
McConnell virtually actually will not win the Finals MVP with the efforts of Haliburton and Pascal Siakam arising large for Indiana all collection, however the best way McConnell and the bench unit have energized the staff — and outplayed their reserve counterparts from OKC — is a serious motive the Pacers have a chance to win this collection. — Collier
If the Thunder win Recreation 7, we’ll keep in mind their title as _____.
Crossing the end line for a historic season — and taking step one in a possible dynastic run.
Oklahoma Metropolis profiles statistically as some of the dominant groups of all time with the perfect regular-season level differential ever. The one champion to complete the season with extra whole wins than the Thunder’s 84, if Oklahoma Metropolis finishes the job, was the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
Oklahoma Metropolis is on this place with virtually its total core consisting of ascending expertise.
Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP who’s simply coming into his prime. Williams is an All-NBA sidekick nonetheless within the comparatively early phases of his growth, as is Chet Holmgren, who has All-NBA and Defensive Participant of the 12 months potential.
GM Sam Presti nonetheless has an unprecedented treasure chest of first-round draft picks to make the most of to proceed including expertise and maybe ultimately change some core gamers if troublesome payroll choices end in departures.
This ought to be the primary of many Junes when the Thunder is the main target of the basketball world. — MacMahon
1:30
Hibbert: Title would solidify Haliburton as a Pacers nice
Roy Hibbert says Tyrese Haliburton’s legacy in Indiana can be cemented with a championship ring.
If the Pacers win Recreation 7, we’ll keep in mind their title as _____.
The largest upset in NBA historical past.
Indiana entered the playoffs as a No. 4 seed within the Japanese Convention. Its run by means of the East was full of buzzer-beaters and thrilling comebacks because the Pacers defied the chances, and so they nonetheless started the Finals dealing with the longest odds of a staff in 20 years within the championship collection.
They won’t be the favorites in any of the seven video games on this collection, but it surely all units Indiana up on the doorstep of some of the unlikely championships in league historical past.
The Pacers do not profile like a regular championship contender, however they’ve spent the playoffs disproving any notion that they don’t seem to be. — Collier
The matchups and changes that may resolve the champ
Historic home-court benefit
In 12 playoff video games on the Paycom Middle, the Thunder have a plus-20.6-point differential, which is the second-largest margin of victory in home-court playoff historical past (minimal 5 video games performed), behind the 1995-96 Utah Jazz’s plus-20.7.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s solely playoff losses at house had been in Recreation 1 in opposition to Indiana and Recreation 1 in opposition to the Nuggets, and so they led in each of these contests till the ultimate seconds.
The occasional taking pictures woes which have plagued Oklahoma Metropolis within the playoffs have not been a problem at house. The Thunder have made simply 29.9% of their 3-point makes an attempt on the highway within the playoffs, vastly underperforming their anticipated mark of 36.5%, based on GeniusIQ. However at house, they’ve made 37.5% of their 3s, an ideal match for his or her 37.5% anticipated 3-point mark.
Apart from Williams, each member of the Thunder’s rotation has shot higher from distance at house. — Zach Kram
An unfamiliar low-scoring sport
Do not anticipate a whole lot of factors Sunday as a result of, traditionally, Recreation 7s within the Finals have been low-scoring affairs. The previous 5 ended 93-89, 95-88, 83-79, 81-74 and 90-84, respectively. Not since 1988, when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 108-105, has a staff reached triple digits in a Finals Recreation 7.
It is unclear which staff that form of sport will favor as a result of neither has performed many prefer it all postseason. The Pacers have not gained a playoff sport with fewer than 108 factors, however they simply turned of their greatest defensive effort of the postseason, permitting solely 91 factors in Recreation 6.
The Thunder, in the meantime, are simply 1-6 within the playoffs after they’ve scored 110 factors or fewer. However OKC does have one low-scoring win — 92-87 in Recreation 4 in opposition to the Nuggets — and ought to be extra accustomed to grind-it-out video games.
The Thunder have held their opponents beneath 100 factors six instances within the playoffs, 5 of them at house. However Oklahoma Metropolis hasn’t completed so as soon as in opposition to Indiana within the Finals. — Kram
The turnover battle
The 2025 playoffs have been outlined by turnovers. General, groups that commit fewer turnovers than their opponents have a document of 58-21 (.734). Given Oklahoma Metropolis led the league in avoiding turnovers and compelled the second most on a per-possession foundation, the Thunder each drove and benefited from that pattern. Towards Western Convention opponents, Oklahoma Metropolis gained the turnover battle in 14 of 16 video games.
However Indiana has been capable of flip the script within the Finals.
After stealing Recreation 1 regardless of 25 giveaways, the Pacers had the turnover edge of their Recreation 3 and Recreation 6 wins and performed the Thunder to a attract Recreation 4. Thursday was the largest outlier. Oklahoma Metropolis’s 10-turnover deficit was twice as large as in another playoff sport.
Uncommon Saturday version of The F5:
– Charting the situation of liveball turnovers within the Finals
– Q&A with @MiikeDLR about what makes a great Considering Basketball video https://t.co/YlJOkAUagR pic.twitter.com/GQ3u5JvJvJ— Owen Phillips (@owenlhjphillips) June 21, 2025
McConnell’s means to show routine efforts to deliver the ball up into expensive steals has been a key think about Indiana doing to the Thunder what Oklahoma Metropolis has completed to groups all season. Owen Phillips of the F5 Newsletter noted Saturday that the Thunder have dedicated 10 turnovers on this collection earlier than getting the ball previous the 3-point line, as in comparison with only one for the Pacers.
As for the significance of house courtroom for Recreation 7, nonetheless, Indiana has averaged 21 turnovers in three video games at Paycom Middle, as in comparison with 13.7 in three house video games. If that cut up continues, the Pacers will face an uphill battle Sunday. — Kevin Pelton
MVP contenders
If Oklahoma Metropolis manages to win Recreation 7 and declare the championship, the one real looking choice on the Thunder is an apparent one: the league’s regular-season MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander (minus-225).
Williams (plus-1300) has had some nice moments on this collection, together with his 40-point explosion in Recreation 5, but it surely is not shut sufficient to noticeably tip the scales away from SGA within the occasion OKC is victorious.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the long-lasting sequence within the collection up to now together with his fourth-quarter closeout in Recreation 4, and his stats throughout the board are superior.
If the Pacers win, nonetheless, the race is wide-open — and really probably will come all the way down to how Recreation 7 itself performs out, and who has the largest influence. The almost definitely state of affairs is that it’s going to, like within the Japanese Convention finals, come all the way down to a alternative between the 2 Indiana stars, Haliburton (plus-1500) and Siakam (plus-300).
Haliburton, enjoying by means of a calf pressure, has led the staff in assists and had the game-winning bucket in Recreation 1 and a stellar efficiency in Recreation 3. Siakam, however, is main the Pacers in factors and rebounds, whereas averaging 4 assists and over a steal and a block.
The one true wild-card choice, relying on how he performs in a Pacers victory, is reserve guard McConnell (plus-10,000), who has had a wonderful collection. It is unlikely he’ll win the award, on condition that Siakam and/or Haliburton are all however assured of an enormous sport if Indiana wins, however McConnell has had a big effect all through the collection because the chief of the Pacers’ second unit. — Bontemps
Historical past of Recreation 7
From ESPN Analysis
-
That is the twentieth Recreation 7 within the NBA Finals in league historical past.
-
It’s the first Recreation 7 within the Finals since 2016, when the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors to finish the one 3-1 comeback in Finals historical past.
-
House groups are 15-4 in Recreation 7 of the Finals.
-
Every of the previous eight Recreation 7s within the NBA Finals have been determined by single digits and 15 of the 19 Recreation 7s within the NBA Finals have been determined by single digits.
-
The common margin of victory in Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals is 6.9 factors, the smallest margin amongst all Finals video games.
The underdogs:
-
Since seeding started in 1984, just one staff seeded fourth or decrease gained the NBA title. It was the 1995 Houston Rockets, who had been a 6-seed.
-
The Pacers gained 18 fewer video games than the Thunder within the common season. That might be the most important upset by way of regular-season wins in an NBA Finals in league historical past.
-
The Pacers had a PPG differential 10.6 factors decrease than the Thunder. That might be the most important upset by way of PPG differential in an NBA Finals in league historical past.
-
The Pacers have 10 wins as an underdog this postseason, tied for essentially the most by any staff in a single postseason up to now 35 seasons.
Finest bets
Andrew Nembhard over 14.5 whole factors and assists (-120). Whereas Haliburton was capable of play nicely Thursday, he’s nonetheless coping with a calf pressure and is likely to be restricted. Nembhard took on a bigger function in Recreation 6, notching a series-high 17 factors with 4 assists (21 P+A), and I anticipate him to be known as upon once more in Recreation 7.
Nembhard averaged 12.5 factors and 5.0 assists (17.5 P+A) within the first two video games of the collection, each in Oklahoma Metropolis, and the Pacers will probably want him to no less than match these numbers in Recreation 7. — Andre Snellings
Jalen Williams over 22.5 whole factors (-125). Williams was in his scoring bag going into Recreation 6, averaging 31.0 factors with no less than 26 in every of the prior three contests. He bought off to a powerful scoring begin in Recreation 6 with 16 factors within the first half earlier than the staff bought blown out within the third quarter. I search for Williams to bounce again in Recreation 7, enjoying at house, and generate one other high-scoring effort. — Snellings
Recreation 7 professional picks
Zach Kram: Thunder
Kevin Pelton: Thunder
Andre Snellings: Thunder
Ohm Youngmisuk: Thunder
Chris Herring: Thunder
Marc Spears: Thunder
Jeremy Woo: Pacers
Neil Paine: Thunder
Closing tally:
Thunder 7, Pacers 1
