It’s the two best words in sports: Game Seven.
The Indiana Pacers throttled the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to force a Game 7.
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The Pacers played their best game of the Finals when they needed it mostCredit: Getty
Call it devil magic, call it stones, call it whatever you want, but the Pacers do not die.
It is the first time in nearly a decade that the Finals has gone to a Game 7.
The last time the Finals went the distance?
When the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 hole in the Finals.
That Game 7 provided two of the most iconic plays of all-time, thanks to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
James’ chase-down block on Andre Iguodala and Irving’s three over Steph Curry delivered Cleveland its first championship in franchise history.
The Pacers are hoping to have the same result come Sunday evening in Oklahoma City.
It will be only the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history, and the first since the aforementioned 2016 finale.
It is only the fourth time in the last 30 years that the Finals has gone to a Game 7.
Coming into the series, the Thunder were the overwhelming favorite, led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a group that had one of the best regular seasons in recent memory.
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Haliburton has the Pacers one win away from immortalityCredit: Getty
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Irving hit one of the most clutch and iconic shots in NBA history back in 2016Credit: Getty
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Irving’s shot wouldn’t have been possible, if not for James’ jaw-dropping blockCredit: Getty
Many so-called experts picked OKC to win in four, maybe five.
Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Rick Carlisle and the entire state of Indiana didn’t hear no bell.
They kept swinging, and knocked the Thunder to the mat in Game 6.
On Sunday evening, they can deliver the KO and bring the franchise its first NBA championship.
The Pacers are now strangely 6-0 in Game 6s over the last 10 seasons.
Again, they do not die.
NBA’s Greatest
The last four teams to win Game 6 in the Finals to force a Game 7, have all won it.
Cleveland in 2016, the Miami Heat over the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, the Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics in 2010, and the Houston Rockets over the New York Knicks way back in 1994.
The Pacers can add themselves to the list with the biggest win in franchise history.
They are now one win away from the franchise’s first ever NBA championship.
Game 7, for all the marbles. Fasten your seatbelt.