Editor’s note: IndyStar’s live coverage of the NBA Finals Game 7 watch party in Indianapolis has ended, as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win the 2024-25 NBA Championship. Below is a recap of news updates and fan interviews compiled during the game.
It’s title time, Indiana.
The Indiana Pacers face the host Oklahoma City Thunder at 8 p.m. EDT in a winner-take-all NBA Finals Game 7 in Oklahoma City. Playing for their first NBA championship, the Pacers have once again stoked Indianapolis’ love of hoops, and IndyStar is here for it.
Our journalists will report live from Oklahoma City and Indianapolis, where thousands of fans will gather at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and downtown to cheer on the Pacers. Refresh this story for the latest fan reaction, links to coverage from our authoritative IndyStar sports team, and much more as the Pacers look to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Are we ready? Yes’Cers!
Tyrese Haliburton injury draws reaction from Pacers fans
“I wish it didn’t happen. I hope it doesn’t change the trajectory of the game.”
Indianapolis metro police are beginning to close down streets near Gainbridge Fieldhouse in anticipation to the finish of the game. As the Oklahoma City Thunder pushed their fourth-quarter lead to 21 points, hopes of a celebration in downtown Indy started to diminish.
Raj Jupal, 22, of Plainfield, lamented the Pacers’ shrinking chances as the game entered its last quarter: “We’re down a decent bit. I was hoping that we would have a little more motivation to play for Haliburton’s injury but we always do well in the fourth quarter, so I’m hoping we can push through for the last one. I’m a little bit annoyed that Siakam hasn’t touched the ball much since the first quarter, so I’m hoping we can dish it to him in the fourth. Siakam and TJ are the two guys I’m hoping touch the ball a lot in the fourth.”
Fans can be seen walking out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse as there are still 7 minutes left on the clock of NBA finals Pacers v OKC game 7.
It’s been a rough night for many Pacers fans.@indystar pic.twitter.com/QZ0HpvxsRq
— Noe Padilla (@1NoePadilla) June 23, 2025
– Noe Padilla and Ethan Hylton
The energy in the Hanger, a downtown Indianapolis bar, was electric as dozens of Pacers fans were glued to screen. Whenever Pascal Siakam would touch the ball, the bar would erupt in cheers of “MVP, MVP, MVP!”
Fans tried their best to keep their heads up after Tyrese Haliburton was taken out of the NBA Finals game after suffering an Achilles injury in the first quarter.
“We all felt bad for him, especially with everything he’s done this season, but we haven’t lost hope,” said Brian Hopson. “We have the depth to go far. We only have one more half and then it’s ours.”
When Andrew Nembhard made a 3-pointer before the end of the half, the bar exploded in excitement. As the Pacers went into the half with the lead, fans could be seen hugging one another and cheering with hope in their eyes.
But as the third quarter, that excitement turned into focus as everyone’s eyes were glued to the screens.
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Luis Hernandez, 20, of Indianapolis, said: “It was a great first half despite the injury. That was pretty upsetting. The energy has been great here at the fieldhouse, it feels like we’re playing a home game. I was at a watch party last week and the energy has been 10 times better tonight. My confidence is pretty high, guys like TJ McConnell have to step into the leadership role.”
– Noe Padilla and Ethan Hylton
IndyStar visual journalist Madyson Crane was outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, taking in the sights and sounds. Check out her pregame recap here:
See thousands of Pacers fans at watch parties around Indianapolis
Game 7 of the NBA Finals brought thousands of fans out in Indianapolis to root on the Pacers
Here’s all Pacers fans are talking about as Game 7 heads to the second quarter: Tyrese Haliburton limping off the court.
Terry Clayton, 25, of Indianapolis, said: “Our superstar Tyrese Haliburton has carried us this whole playoffs with his miracle shots, so it’s tough to see him down. But guess what, we have a bench that can lead us through. I’m hoping to see if they can pick up the slack and I want to see what coach (Rick) Carlisle can do. We are cheering for you guys from home. We need 19-25 points from TJ McConnell.”
The moment Haliburton went down with a leg injury, fans around downtown Indianapolis could be making an audible gasp, questioning if this was the end of the Pacers’ run in the NBA Finals.
There was then a moment of silence as fans gazed at one another, looking for answers. Once Haliburton was helped off the court, some fans took that as a sign that the game was over and started leaving their spot in line or asking for the check.
Other fans didn’t let this moment kill their hope that this was still the Pacers’ game to win.
“We’ll be OK, we got depth,” Shaune Shelby said. “There’s been big games where Tyrese didn’t show up, but we still won the game.”
“We’ve done it before. We can do it again. Remember early this season, Tyrese was out. We were still hooping. There’s still hope.”
– Ethan Hylton and Noe Padilla
Game 7 of the NBA Finals has started and hundreds of people are still waiting outside bars in downtown Indianapolis, hoping to find a seat to enjoy the game.The line outside Kilroy’s Bar N’ Grill wraps around the building and it’s expected that fans may have to wait up to an hour to get a seat inside.But that wait hasn’t killed their excitement for this historic moment as fans staring through the bar’s restaurant could be seen cheering as the Pacers took the first lead of the game.Regardless of whether fans can find a way inside a bar, they will find a way to support their Pacers.
– Noe Padilla
One prominent Pacers fan won’t have a front-row seat for Game 7. Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark and her teammates are hoping for a smooth flight and a good signal to catch ABC’s feed.
Caitlin Clark excited for Pacers Game 7
Caitlin Clark says she’s pumped for Game 7, proud of the Pacers’ season, and hoping to watch mid-flight.
An hour and a half before Game 7, with hundreds of Pacers fans gathered outside the north entrance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Dillon Trumpy leaned against the railing in front of the team store. The 28-year-old, dressed in a cerulean T-shirt and navy shorts, was virtually the only fan without gold and blue Pacers gear.
Immediately as the team store opened, Trumpy purchased a Tyrese Haliburton jersey.
“Rep the point guard, rep the entire team. That’s how it goes,” Trumpy said. “I considered getting a Nesmith and McConnell, but we only have so much money in the bank.”
An Indiana native and lifelong Pacers fan, Trumpy was raised in the Reggie Miller era and never felt incentivized to buy a jersey when Paul George or Victor Oladipo played in Indiana.
“My fandom never wavered when Paul and Victor played, but it never showed the promise that it’s showing tonight,” Trumpy said. “No disrespect to them, they work their a– to get to where they were, but after Paul George wanting to leave and Victor with his major injury, we could never hold on to what Indiana basketball really means, but these Pacers are.”
When describing what “Indiana basketball” means, Trumpy surveyed the hundreds of fans before him.
“Look around; it’s all these people wearing yellow and blue just wanting to be here to watch a game in Indiana that’s being played in Oklahoma City,” Trumpy said. “It’s something you can’t really put into words. It’s rooted in our genetics. You come out of the womb in Indiana, and the first thing you know is Indiana basketball. And now, with Game 7, what a time to be alive.”
– Joshua Heron
Although the doors at Gainbridge Fieldhouse opened at 7 p.m. for the Game 7 watch party, hundreds of fans could still be seen funneling inside the building by 7:20 p.m.
At one point lines of fans could be seen wrapped around the street and into the parking garage. There are thousands of Pacers fans roaming the streets of downtown, either waiting to get inside the fieldhouse or to find a seat in a local bar.
LaCorah Smith, 47, from Gary, said, “I’m not nervous at all. I think we got this in the bag. We just need to start No. 9, TJ (McConnell), and we’ll be all good.
“We need to focus on pacing the floor tonight and our ball movement, that’s all. We are not worried about OKC tonight. We got this in the bag. SGA is a good player, I’ll give him his props, but they ain’t got nothing on us.”
Jason Moore, 42, of Merrillville, said: “I’m hoping the Pacers can pull it off. Tyrese Haliburton needs to have the biggest game of his career! The Pacers have surprised me – I didn’t think we were going to be anything going into the season. So I’m shocked to even be here.”
– Noe Padilla and Ethan Hylton
Ontario Jones remembers sitting in front of the TV and watching Reggie Miller make his historic shot against the New York Knicks more than 20 years ago. That was a moment that was burned into his memory and started his lifelong love as a Pacers fan.
Sunday evening, he stood in front of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with eyes of wonderment, sharing how this might be a “once in a lifetime moment” to his watch beloved Pacers bring home the NBA Championship.
“It means everything,” Jones said. “Look at the excitement in the city. It’s beautiful. We don’t get this too often.”
Standing atop the Morris Bicentennial Plaza, Mark Roberts watched as fans young and old attempted free throws and 3-pointers at the stadium’s outdoor courts. For Roberts, this was a moment any true-blooded Hoosier could appreciate.
“I remember when I used to shoot a basketball at a hoop attached to my family’s barn,” Roberts said. “To see everyone out here is special.”
Whether the Pacers win or lose Sunday, Roberts felt a level of love and appreciation for what this team has done for the state.
“Today is a day of hope,” Roberts said. “Today’s game will be hard fought. It won’t be David and Goliath, like many make it out to be.
“Today will be a game against two warriors who will be putting everything on the court to see their team win it all.”
– Noe Padilla
Hours before Gainbridge Fieldhouse opened its doors to the public, hundreds of Indiana Pacers fans swarmed downtown to celebrate their team’s journey in this year’s NBA Finals.
Since 4 p.m., fans could be seen reserving some of the best seats in downtown bars. Others packed the Morris Bicentennial Plaza as they waited for the doors to open for the Pacers watch party.
Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Game 7 watch party timelapse video
Watch as Pacers fans line Delaware Street ahead of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse watch party for the 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 between the Pacers and Thunder.
Excitement for the Pacers’ chance of bringing home the Larry O’Brien Trophy was apparent as fans driving past the stadium could be heard honking their horns while others chanted “Let’s go Pacers.”
– Noe Padilla
Pacers fans wanting a bit of extra juice before Game 7 needn’t look far. Franchise legend Reggie Miller narrated an epic hype video that the Pacers posted on social media ahead of the game. Want some chills? Click here to check it out.
Let it be known, we’re not here to participate.
Tonight, we write the ending they never saw coming.
A new champion will be crowned…let’s bring that hardware home.
Narrated by Reggie Miller. pic.twitter.com/m3XoFVtRDX
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 22, 2025
ABC will broadcast Game 7 of the Finals, with the tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT. Read everything you need to know about the game, including our expert picks, here.
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– Eric Larsen