NBA Finals Game 6 creates historic moment for small-market teams, zealous fans

USA Today

17-06-2025

NBA Finals Game 6 creates historic moment for small-market teams, zealous fans
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Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it's 'small-market' billing
USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sports Pulse
NBA historians, fill up the inkwell and prepare your quill pens.
History is arriving as fast as Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fills up a box score.
A couple of teams from small markets are about to do something gigantic. Well, one of them anyway, as the NBA Finals shift back to Indianapolis.
Game 6 is Thursday, June 19, with the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the Indiana Pacers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. And here's what you need to know:
OKC is one victory from its first title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008. The Pacers are two victories from winning their first championship in franchise history. And before we disclose any championship parade route information, there are some questions to ponder.
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Can Tyrese Haliburton and his injured right leg bounce back after a poor showing in Oklahoma City's 120-109 victory over Indiana in Game 5 on Monday, June 16, in Oklahoma City?
If not, any chance Indiana Fever star Caitin Clark can suit up for the Pacers? (After all, the Fever and Pacers are owned by the same people, play in the same arena and, boy, the Pacers could use a few of those logo 3s if Haliburton is misfiring again.) If not, she'll have to continue to serve as a good-luck charm.
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Regardless of which team wins, city planners should have a dusty map of the parade route ready. After all, the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals in 2012 before losing to the Miami Heat, and the Pacers reached the Finals in 2000 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.
But enough about the teams. What about the fans?
The Thunder faithful were color coordinated in their white-and-blue T-shirts during Game 5 and belting out those spirited chants of 'OKC!' Everybody, on three, 'Awwwww.'
How long are we going to be able to tolerate the chants of 'OKC!'' All joking aside, suck it up, sports fans, because they've earned the right to chant as long as they want if they win Game 6 or Game 7.
'Unreal,'' coach Mark Daigneault said about the Thunder's home crowd after his team won Game 5. 'They've been unreal forever, but they just put the wind at our back and we have to give the reason to.''
Small-market teams do not lack zealous fans. The Pacers faithful at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday night are at risk of vocal cord damage if that's what it takes to propel their team to victory and force a deciding Game 7.
It'll all be worth writing about, fellow historians, especially if you're equipped with a quill pen.