OKC Finals Game 6: Shock Loss & NBA Dud
- INDIANAPOLIS - The Oklahoma City Thunder,on the cusp of an NBA championship,faltered in Game 6,losing to the Indiana Pacers 108-91 on Thursday.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's star guard, shouldered the blame for the lackluster performance.
- The Thunder starters, including Gilgeous-Alexander, were benched for the entire fourth quarter as the Pacers extended their lead to 30 points. Gilgeous-Alexander's eight turnovers were a important factor...
The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a shocking defeat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, falling to the Indiana Pacers and now face a Game 7 showdown. Star guard Shai Gilgeous-alexander admitted the Thunder “sucked” as the team struggled with turnovers and poor shooting, a critical performance. News Directory 3 reports on the game’s impact, where the team shot a low 38.2% from the field, and Gilgeous-alexander committed a record-tying eight turnovers, putting the Thunder’s championship hopes in jeopardy. Coach Mark Daigneault called it “uncharacteristic,” emphasizing the need for improvement before the final game. Now, with the series tied, the Thunder must regroup and prepare for a winner-take-all Game 7. Discover what’s next …
Thunder’s NBA Finals Hopes Dented by Pacers,Face Game 7 Showdown
Updated June 20,2025
INDIANAPOLIS - The Oklahoma City Thunder,on the cusp of an NBA championship,faltered in Game 6,losing to the Indiana Pacers 108-91 on Thursday. Now, the series heads to a decisive Game 7.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s star guard, shouldered the blame for the lackluster performance. “The way I see it is we sucked tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. He added that the team needs to learn from the loss and prepare for a winner-take-all game. “The better team Sunday will win,” he said.
The Thunder starters, including Gilgeous-Alexander, were benched for the entire fourth quarter as the Pacers extended their lead to 30 points. Gilgeous-Alexander’s eight turnovers were a important factor in the loss, matching his regular-season high and tying a Finals record for the past 40 years.
“Some of them I just think was carelessness and not being focused and not being engaged,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. He finished the game with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting and only two assists. He also noted the Pacers “played harder than us tonight.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault described the performance as “uncharacteristic” and “disappointing.” He emphasized the need for improvement across the board before Game 7. “It was collective. It wasn’t one guy,” Daigneault said.
Oklahoma City’s offensive struggles extended beyond the turnovers. The team shot just 38.2% from the field in the first three quarters and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 3 of 20 3-point attempts.
Forward Jalen Williams described the Thunder’s offense as ”sticky.” He noted that the team’s defensive struggles contributed to the offensive woes. “When you’re constantly taking the ball out and you’re playing against a set defence over and over again, that’s part of it,” Williams said. He added,”Other part,we didn’t do a good job trusting each other to make the next play like we did Game 5.” Williams had a plus-minus of -40 during his 27 minutes on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged that the pressure of possibly clinching the championship may have affected the team’s performance.”Now,we didn’t play like it at all,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s why the night went the way that it did.We got exactly what we deserved, what we earned. We have to own that.” The Oklahoma City Thunder now face a must-win Game 7 for the NBA Finals championship.
What’s next
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Indiana Pacers in game 7 of the NBA Finals. The game is scheduled for Sunday, with the winner claiming the NBA championship.