Pacers fans filled Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis Monday night for a watch party of game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Photo by Luke Shepherd, TheStatehouseFile.com.
The NBA Finals are inching closer to a finale after what has been a back-and-forth series between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. This left the series tied 2-2, with game 5 on Monday being a pivotal game for both teams.
Since game 5 was in Oklahoma City, the Pacers hosted a watch party at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for fans to watch the game live with tens of thousands of fans.
Pacers fans filled Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis Monday night for a watch party of game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Photo by Luke Shepherd, TheStatehouseFile.com.
These watch parties are common for all teams in the league if their team makes it far into the playoffs. The Pacers have hosted these watch parties since the second round of the playoffs, when the Pacers played the Cavaliers. Originally, you could get into these events for free as long as you signed up for a ticket; however, for this series against the Thunder, it now costs $5-10 to get in.
Before the game Monday, some fans gave their thoughts on the atmosphere in Indianapolis and why the Pacers have been given so much extra support.
Jaden Tapper, a newer fan who started watching during the playoff run, is a great example of the increased fanbase for the Pacers this postseason.
Logo by Sydney Byerly, TheStatehouseFile.com.
“The energy is so much different because the finals is a big deal. And I know the Pacers haven’t been to the finals in a long time, so the energy is great,” Tapper said. “We’ve been watching the games together at someone’s house, but we came because we knew it’d be so much better with thousands of fans.”
While it’s great to see newer fans getting invested in the team, the playoff run is important for lifelong fans and the state as a whole, said Ira Crawley.
“All Star Weekend was the only time we’ve seen this level of excitement,” he said. “Even when Tamika Catchings and the Fever won the finals back in 2012. It’s crazy how [the Pacers are] revolutionizing the game.”
Pacers fans filled Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis Monday night for a watch party of game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Photo by Luke Shepherd, TheStatehouseFile.com.
His friend Glenn chimed in, “In 49 states, it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana. This is what we like. We’re the basketball state of the country, hands down. If you grab a random person off the street right now, they can beat the average person at basketball. There are hoops everywhere.
“This means a lot to us.”
Going into game 6, the Pacers are down 3-2 after losing game 5 with a score of 120-109. Game 6 is at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And if the Pacers win game 6, game 7 will be on Sunday, and a watch party will be available to witness the final game to determine the NBA championship.
Luke Shepherd is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.