There will be seventh game in the NBA final

Andrew Nembhard Ataca El Aro de Oklahoma.

Foto: EFE – BRIAN SPURLOCK

The Indiana Pacers fulfilled their part and defended their home with authority. With a solid and collective performance, 108 to 91 beat Oklahoma City Thunder in the sixth match of the NBA finals and stretched the series to a final seventh game that will be played on Sunday in Oklahoma. The city of Indianapolis lived a holiday and efficiency, in which his team was superior from the start, annulled his rivals for several passages and made it clear that he is not willing to surrender without fighting.

From the first quarter, Indiana went out to look for the game decision. With Pascal Siakam as a leader, the locals marked the rhythm against an erratic and disconnected thunder. Tyrese Haliburton, despite his physical problems, was key with 12 points and four assists in the first half, while Andrew Nembhard added 10 units to complete a first solid blow. They also contributed from the TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin bank, with eight points each, along with the nine of Aaron Nesmith. With this balanced production, Indiana went to rest with a 20 -point advantage, which would be key.

On the other side, Oklahoma showed his worst face in the first half. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 points) and Jalen Williams (16) kept his own in the first rooms, the rest of the team did not respond. Chet Holmgren barely scored four points despite his seven rebounds, and figures such as Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso did not add a single point. In fact, up to six players ended half without scoring, which reflected the poor collective performance. The Thunder depended exclusively on Shai and Williams to stay close, but Indiana's solid defense and the null impact of the second unit left a deep mark before the break.

The third quarter was a statement of power of the Pacers. With a suffocating defense and an unstoppable offensive rhythm, Indiana expanded its advantage until 90-30, a shocking figure that made the real difference between both teams in that section of the game. TJ McConnell, on a brilliant night, consolidated as a figure with 12 points, nine rebounds and great rhythm control. To close the third quarter with a brooch of gold, Ben Sheppard put a triple about the horn that raised the public and confirmed that the game was completely under control.

In the last quarter, OKC tried to make up the result with a more distributed offensive. Shai finished with 21 points, pull with 16 and Isaiah Joe contributed 11 from the bank. Jaylin Williams and Hartenstein also added from the rotation, but the damage was already done. Holmgren, Dort and Caruso remained off, and the 21 ball losses of the team ended up burying any attempted attempt.

Indiana, meanwhile, closed with an impeccable choral performance. Seven players finished with more than 10 points: Obi Toppin was the top scorer with 20 units, followed by Nembhard (17), Siakam (16 and 13 rebounds), Haliburton (14), McConnell (12), Nesmith (10) and Sheppard (7). The difference in assists (22 vs. 12), robberies (16 vs. 4) and offensive rebounds (11 vs. 5) reflected the physical and intellectual domain of the game.

General statistics show a slight advantage in effectiveness for OKC (41.3% in field shots compared to 40.4%), but Indiana threw more times, scored more triple (15 vs. 8) and was much more efficient in collective. The party was an execution, intensity and determination lesson. Now, with the series tied 3-3, everything will be defined on Sunday in a seventh game where there will be no margin of error. That day, the new NBA champion will be known.

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