Tyrese Haliburton warns Indiana Pacers of ‘poison' of outside noise before NBA Finals Game 7
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton gets a hug from his girlfriend after Game 6 of the NBA Finals. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
OKLAHOMA CITY – Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton says the Pacers must keep their focus firmly on the Oklahoma City Thunder and block out the 'poison' of narratives popping up around Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which will take place on June 22.
The Pacers pushed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder to a winner-take-all title showdown with a stunning blowout victory on June 19 – Haliburton inspiring his teammates with a 14-point performance two days after he limped through Game 5 with a right calf strain.
Now the Pacers have a chance to claim the first NBA championship for a franchise that won three American Basketball Association titles before joining the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
'The narratives are going to be almost poison,' Haliburton said.
'To talk about what this would mean to our city and our organisation and legacy talk, and how we played so well and now the pressure is on (the Thunder)... there's going to be narratives that we can't really pay attention to.
'We've got to control what we can. So much of these games has come down to who is going to start the fight from a physicality standpoint, take care of the ball better, rebound the ball better.
'Those are the important things that we need to focus on... we've got to be ready to compete in Game 7.'
The NBA title-decider in Oklahoma City will be the 20th Game 7 in Finals history, and the first since 2016 – when the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors on their home floor to complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and claim the title.
The LeBron James-led Cavs were the first road team to win a Finals Game 7 since 1978. Home teams are 15-4 in championship Game 7s and Haliburton knows the Pacers face a monumental task in trying to polish off the 68-win (regular season) Thunder on their home court.
'There's no such thing as, like, a pretty Game 7. They're usually ugly bloodbaths,' he added.
'We've got to go in and just figure it out. These guys are going to play hard. They make shots at a higher clip at home. Their crowd is amazing.
'This is why we do what we do. This is the peak, the pinnacle of our sport.'
Meanwhile in other news, NBA star Kevin Durant has purchased a minority stake in French football club Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League winners said on June 20, and the Phoenix Suns forward will provide expertise on their planned expansion into basketball.
Durant, a two-time NBA champion and four-time Olympic gold medallist, has signed a share purchase and strategic partnership agreement with PSG's majority shareholder Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), through his company Boardroom.
'It is an honour to partner with QSI and to be a shareholder of Paris Saint-Germain, a club and a city that is deeply close to my heart,' Durant, who won gold at the Paris Olympics last year, said.
'This club has big plans and I look forward to being part of the next phase of growth and exploring new investment opportunities with QSI.'
One of those opportunities is likely to come in the world of basketball, with PSG already involved in early-stage talks with the NBA regarding potential investment and venues for a new basketball league in Europe.
Durant, who had already forged a link with PSG through the club's minority shareholder Arctos Partners, will partner on a wide range of commercial, investment and content production initiatives.
The 36-year-old will also support the club in its strategy of diversification and growth on sporting and commercial fronts, including developing the club's strategy in the United States and other international markets.
PSG said in a statement that Durant would provide 'expertise on PSG's multi-sport strategy, particularly regarding future projects in the field of basketball'.
Durant was recently included in Forbes' 2025 list of the world's highest-paid athletes, coming in at No. 10 with earnings of US$101.4 million. AFP, REUTERS
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