By Joel Perez 
We’ve got ourselves a Game 7, baby!!!
The best two words in sports. GAME 7!!!
It’s crazy to think about what fans were saying before this series compared to what we’ve
actually gotten—because this has been insane. Coming into it, most people thought it would be
a sweep or a quick five-game series in favor of the Oklahoma City Thunder. But from the very
beginning—especially with how Game 1 ended—it was clear this was going to be something
different.
The Pacers stole Game 1 in true Indiana fashion—clawing back in the final minutes before
Tyrese Haliburton hit a mid-range jumper to seal it. That came after a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
miss, and rather than call a timeout, the Pacers pushed it full court. Haliburton stopped on a
dime, faked out Cason Wallace, and drilled the jumper to take Game 1 of the Finals. What a wild
finish.
Since then, the series has been back and forth, And all those predictions about an OKC sweep?
Completely off. Some analysts even compared the Pacers’ Game 1 win to Allen Iverson and the
Sixers stealing Game 1 in the 2001 Finals—complete with the iconic step-over—before losing
four straight to Shaq and Kobe. But this isn’t that.
This series has been incredible. Honestly, it blows last year’s Finals out of the water—despite all
the hype around the star power of those teams. Or maybe that’s just the Celtics hater in me
talking. Either way, this one’s just been more fun. The pace has been electric. Both teams have
been going at it for all 48 minutes. And with the Pacers especially, you never feel like the game’s
over. They just don’t quit.
Game 6 was wild. After an early 10–2 Thunder run and the Pacers missing their first eight shots,
Rick Carlisle called a timeout. And whatever he said worked—Indiana exploded out of that
break with a 24–7 run. OKC kept it close for the rest of the first quarter, but then… we all saw
what happened.
The Pacers could not miss. Every loose ball somehow ended up in their hands. The Thunder
couldn’t get anything going. At halftime, OKC was down 22 after a dominant second quarter led
by Pascal Siakam—who was everywhere. He capped it off with a monster poster slam over
Jalen Williams that sent the arena (and me in my living room) into a frenzy. I was screaming
“HOLY SHIT!!!” alongside my brother-in-law Daniel. That dunk came off a no-look pass from
Haliburton after a deflection steal—and was immediately followed by another Siakam bucket to
close the half and push the lead to 22.
From there, it was all Pacers. JDub went from having the best individual performance in the
Finals—a 40-point outing—to a brutal -40 plus/minus in Game 6. Shai couldn’t find his rhythm
and racked up a career-high in turnovers—also the most by any player in the Finals in 40 years.
Chet Holmgren was a non-factor on both ends. But now we get Game 7.
And I fully expect a different Thunder squad to show up—at home, with what might be the loudest crowd in the NBA behind them. As for the Pacers, I imagine they’re riding high off that
Game 6, but they know the job’s not done. I expect the same urgency and intensity. It’s do or
die.
Like I said from the top—the best two words in sports: GAME 7.
Man, I couldn’t be more excited… but it’s also bittersweet. It’s the last NBA game of the season.
After tonight, we wait until later this year for the next one. Thankfully, the NBA Draft is on
Wednesday and free agency kicks off July 1st, so it won’t be long before the chaos returns.
Wishing the best of luck to both teams. They’ve earned this.
Here’s hoping for a close, entertaining battle to close out the season.
I CAN’T WAIT!!!
Angel Rivera