Indiana has done a lot of good things this season, first in the regular season and then in the playoffs, and whoever thought they would give up at 3:2 in the grand final series - was wrong.
The Pacers responded against Oklahoma in Game 108, outclassing the Thunder 91:2016 and winning the championship - their first in the NBA Finals since XNUMX, and their fifth this century.
Many had written off Rick Carlisle's team, especially due to Tyrese Halliburton's injury, but one of the leaders of the Indianapolis team gritted his teeth despite the pain in his right calf and contributed with 14 points.
"We just didn't want to admit it was over. And here it is - it's not. We have another chance," said Halliburton.
Game 30 didn't bring any excitement, with Indiana trailing by 31 points after three quarters. They could have afforded the luxury of conceding 18 points in the final quarter and scoring just XNUMX points.
Obi Taupin led the winning team with 20 points, Andrew Nembhard scored 17, and Pascal Siakam was also excellent with 16 and 13 rebounds. TJ McConnell also contributed with 12 points, nine steals and six assists.
- We wanted to give the fans another triumph in a great season. And it wouldn't have been good if we had allowed our rival to celebrate the ring on our floor. We were backed up against the wall and we responded like a real team. This was a team victory - added Halibarton.
Oklahoma missed the first game point for a historic ring in a game they had no real chance of winning. Shay Gilges-Alexander led the way with 21 points, but he had eight turnovers before the Thunder's entire starting lineup was benched at the end of the third quarter.
- We were terrible. We need to learn from it, because we have another game where everything is at stake - the regular season MVP emphasized.
The good news for Oklahoma is that tradition is on its side - the hosts of Game 15 won 19 out of XNUMX times.
- Kudos to Indiana, they played exactly as a team that knows it has a last chance should play. But we also knew that a win would bring us the title and we weren't good enough. We were outplayed in every segment, the Pacers had the game in their hands for all 48 minutes - said Oklahoma coach Mark Dagnolt.
The decisive match for the championship ring is on the night between Sunday and Monday (two o'clock in the morning).
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