Game 6: Thunder look to clinch title, Pacers try to extend NBA Finals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NBA season could end on Thursday night.
It's Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the Indiana Pacers 3-2 in the title series. Game 6 is in Indianapolis and Game 7, if necessary, will be Sunday.
Advertisement
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are one win away from becoming NBA champions. And Gilgeous-Alexander is on the cusp of a nearly unprecedented season when it comes to individual honors.
He is the favorite, as of now, to win NBA Finals MVP. He already has won the NBA MVP award for this season, meaning he could be the first double MVP since LeBron James did it with Miami in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
It could get even better. Gilgeous-Alexander is also the reigning scoring champion, meaning an even more exclusive club may await him. Only three players in NBA history have won MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title and a championship in the same season: Michael Jordan did it four times, and Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once.
Gilgeous-Alexander could join them if the Thunder win this series.
Advertisement
The Pacers entered Thursday awaiting word on whether guard Tyrese Haliburton would be able to play in Game 6; he has a strained right calf.
Thursday is also the 25th anniversary of the end of Indiana's most recent appearance in the NBA Finals before this season. On June 19, 2000, O'Neal finished off that MVP Finals/MVP-scoring champion/league-champion season when he and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Pacers in Game 6.
If the Pacers avoid that fate Thursday and force a Game 7, it will be Sunday in Oklahoma City.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
27 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA odds: Betting Trend Could Mean OKC Clinches Title On Road At Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder could be on their way to clinching the 2025 NBA championship tonight — at least based on one particular betting trend. According to John Ewing at BetMGM, in the NBA Finals since 2005, road favorites of three points or more have gone 8-2 against the spread (ATS). Currently, the Thunder are 6.5-point favorites as they travel to Indiana to face the Pacers. And 55% of the money is on OKC to cover. Will OKC follow the trend and leave Indianapolis with the title? Let's take a look at some of the odds for tonight's pivotal Game 6 at BetMGM as of June 19. Thunder @ Pacers (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Point spread: Thunder -6.5 (Thunder favored to win by 6.5 points or more, otherwise Pacers cover) Moneyline: Thunder -250 favorite to win (bet $10 to win $14 total); Pacers +250 underdogs to win (bet $10 to win $35 total) Total scoring Over/Under: 221.5 points scored by both teams combined Both teams to score 55+ points in 1st half Yes: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total) No: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total) 1st Half SpreadThunder -3.5 Pacers +3.5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over/Under 33.5 points Jalen Williams Over/Under 23.5 points Game to go overtimeYes: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total) No: -3000 (bet $10 to win $10.33 total) What are the chances the Thunder keep the trend alive of road favorites of at least three points covering the spread in the NBA Finals? According to "Speak" co-host Paul Pierce, the team on the other side of the ball has a fair shake of forcing a Game 7. "[The Pacers] absolutely can win," he said. "This isn't a team that needs Haliburton to score 30 for them to win. He just has to have a presence. But you can't turn the ball over. "If Rick Carlisle can make the necessary adjustments … and you use the home crowd for adrenalin and momentum? Shake and bake!" "Breakfast Ball" co-host Danny Parkins, on the other hand, said that "it's over" for the Pacers. "[Haliburton] was visibly limping all over the court [in Game 5]. He was not aggressive. It's not good. "They need to be at 110 percent to be able to have a chance." recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dwight Howard Receives Punishment Update for Fight With Lance Stephenson
Dwight Howard Receives Punishment Update for Fight With Lance Stephenson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NBA legend Dwight Howard stepped into the Big 3 spotlight this weekend, making his debut with the LA Riot in a season opener against Lance Stephenson's Miami 305. The matchup in Chicago held promise as two prominent former Los Angeles Lakers players squared off in the high-intensity 3-on-3 format. Advertisement Late in the game, tensions boiled over. What began as a scuffle on the court escalated when Stephenson appeared to elbow Howard in the chest. Howard shoved Stephenson and even locked him in a headlock, pushing the altercation into the stands—forcing ejections for both players. Officials later issued each a technical foul for the on-court confrontation before their ejections. After the game, Stephenson blasted Howard's aggression on Instagram, writing, 'He had 10 fouls, pushing everybody—he was outta control' (h/t Ball is Life). Howard hasn't commented directly on the incident, seemingly focused on moving forward with the season. On Tuesday, NBA insider Chris B. Haynes reported on potential punishments for both Howard and Stephenson: Advertisement 'After extensive review, Dwight Howard and Lance Stephenson will avoid suspensions for their on‑court altercation that spilled into stands … Both issued warnings and given leniency due to being rookies getting accustomed to physicality of league." Despite the dramatic debut, the league has opted against suspensions—emphasizing that while the altercation was serious, both players received warnings and leniency. The decision respects their adjustment to the physical Big 3 environment and keeps them both eligible for upcoming games. With neither suspended, fans can expect both veterans back in action—and hopefully channeling their intensity in more controlled, basketball-focused ways moving forward. Advertisement Related: Dalton Knecht Sends LeBron James Message After 'Retirement' Post Related: Austin Reaves' Message on NBA Future After Lakers Trade Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers-Jazz Trade Report Surfaces Days Before NBA Draft
Lakers-Jazz Trade Report Surfaces Days Before NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers are in win-now mode. To be perfectly honest, they usually are year in and year out. With LeBron James and Luka Doncic on the team, there's much more pressure for the Lakers to build a contender around them. Advertisement That's why the Utah Jazz make sense as a trade partner: They are in a completely opposite situation from the Lakers. Because they are rebuilding, they have no need for win-now veterans on the roster. The Jazz have helped the Lakers before, as they bailed the Lakers out of the Russell Westbrook fiasco, but that came at a significant cost for the Lakers, as they traded a top-four protected pick in 2027 to make it work. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.© Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images As it turns out, the Lakers definitely have their eyes on a Jazz player: Walker Kessler. The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen revealed on Locked on Jazz that the Lakers are very much interested in the Jazz center while adding what they would put on the table. Advertisement "The Lakers have shown significant interest all the way back to the trade deadline," Larsen said. "Certainly continuing now, and him being their future of the center, giving up multiple picks to get there? That is on the table right now. I don't know if the Jazz take it. Certainly, they haven't so far." This report comes just days before the June 25 NBA Draft that is expected to contain significant movement around the league. Kessler is up for an extension this summer, and the Jazz can decide whether he is part of their future or if they want to own the Lakers' draft capital for the foreseeable future. Related: Calls Mount for Mavericks to Trade Anthony Davis After New Report Related: Dwight Howard Receives Punishment Update for Fight With Lance Stephenson This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
