The Oklahoma City Thunder can almost smell it: another franchise that knows exactly who it is. One viewing of Indiana’s decisive Game 6 victory over New York on Saturday— the clincher that delivered the Pacers to the NBA Finals—reveals an unmistakable identity, one you can practically catch in the air.
Think about guard Andrew Nembhard tailing Jalen Brunson step-for-step, suffocating him like a custom-fit holster. Consider Thomas Bryant, who logged barely 15 minutes a night all season, yet provided a timely spark without anyone in Indiana raising an eyebrow. Or picture Tyrese Haliburton flashing that vindicated grin whenever the “overrated” label surfaces.
The Pacers are unapologetically home-grown. They never chased a constellation of superstars; nearly every piece they needed was already in their own backyard.
“From a distance we really respect what they’ve built,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Sunday. “Their collective play is greater than the sum of their parts— that’s the hallmark of a great team.”
Depth on Display
Much like Oklahoma City, Indiana’s postseason staying power has come from layers of contributors. Haliburton may steer the ship, but the engine has several cylinders:
- Pascal Siakam—East finals MVP, the personification of steady production.
- Andrew Nembhard & Aaron Nesmith—two-way glue who handle the hardest assignments.
- Myles Turner—cornerstone rim protector and pick-and-pop threat.
- Obi Toppin & Bennedict Mathurin—change-of-pace scorers off the bench.
Their unity even extends to pre-game fashion. For Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, the Pacers arrived in coordinated all-black, signaling they’d come to bury the Knicks—together.
Thunder swingman Jalen Williams captured the shared edge perfectly:
“We’ve each survived three series to get here. They’re as confident as we are.”
Clash of Styles—or Mirror Images?
Many frame the series as elite defense (OKC) against explosive offense (Indiana). The stats back it up: the Pacers own the league’s best playoff offensive rating, with the Thunder sitting third. Yet Oklahoma City’s offense has quietly hummed, and Indiana’s defense—though less heralded—reflects the same principles as its attack: pace, pressure, persistence.
“They defend in a way that’s totally aligned with how they score,” Daigneault noted. “It gives any game against them a distinct feel, and they never deviate—January or June, up 20 or down 20.”
The Haliburton Arc
No player has stared into the mirror more often than Tyrese Haliburton. Once viewed as Sacramento’s future, then shipped east as a second-year pro, he was snubbed from February’s All-Star Game only to land on the All-NBA Third Team. When an anonymous player poll tagged him “overrated,” he responded by waving, laughing, and—against New York—mockingly grabbing his own throat to remind the crowd of past taunts.
“His confidence is what makes him special,” Williams said. “Playing this well with all that chatter swirling— you have to respect it.”
Haliburton’s swagger embodies Indiana’s postseason run: proud, cohesive, undeterred by outside skepticism.
2025 NBA Finals Schedule
(All times Central)
| Game | Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacers @ Thunder | Thu, June 5 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Pacers @ Thunder | Sun, June 8 | 7:00 p.m. | ABC |
| 3 | Thunder @ Pacers | Wed, June 11 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4 | Thunder @ Pacers | Fri, June 13 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 5* | Pacers @ Thunder | Mon, June 16 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 6* | Thunder @ Pacers | Thu, June 19 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 7* | Pacers @ Thunder | Sun, June 22 | 7:00 p.m. | ABC |
When the ball tips on June 5, two franchises built through patience and player development will test whose blueprint holds firmer under the brightest lights. For neutral fans, it’s a refreshing small-market showcase. For Oklahoma City and Indiana? It’s the ultimate validation of everything they believe about team-first basketball.