Mark Daigneault calls Pacers-Thunder 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 a 'privilege'
Over eight months into their season, the Oklahoma City Thunder's historic season will come down to one game. The Indiana Pacers destroyed the title favorite in Game 6. With the 2025 NBA Finals knotted up at 3-3, a decisive Game 7 will determine the NBA championship.
Legacies will be on the line. How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP season will be viewed in historic context will be determined. Everything is at stake. The highest amount of pressure you can think of, multiply that tenfold.
28 NBA fanbases love the thought of an NBA Finals Game 7. Last time it happened, it produced a classic as LeBron James led his Cleveland Cavaliers to a 3-1 series comeback over the Golden State Warriors. It'll be must-watch TV. But for OKC and Indiana, stress and anxiety levels will be dangerously high.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault pivoted to Game 7 after their 108-91 Game 6 loss. He put the stinger behind him and quickly contextualized Sunday's matchup by zooming out. If you were told back in September that OKC would host a Game 7 to determine the NBA championship, you would take that offer in a heartbeat.
"It was hard tonight. Indiana was great and we were not. We have the same opportunity Indiana does on Sunday. Score will be 0-0 when the ball goes up in the air. It's a privilege to play in Game 7s. It's a privilege to play in the Finals," Daigneault said. "As disappointing as tonight was, we're grateful for the opportunity. We put in a lot of work this season to be able to play that game at home, which is exciting to be able to do it in front of our fans. Obviously disappointed tonight."
Thunder fans might've panicked about what happened in Game 6. It's one thing to lose, it's another to get embarrassed on a national stage. But the good news is it only counts for one loss. To beat the Pacers three straight times was a tall task.
The Thunder aren't afforded that luxury. They'll spend the weekend preparing for the biggest game of everybody's lives. This is what you spent the last year working toward. OKC will hope to lean on its much better play at home in the playoffs compared to on the road.
"But we'll regroup, get back to zero, learn from it with clear eyes, like we always do," Daigneault said. "Get ourselves as ready as we can be to play Game 7 on Sunday."
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