Game 6 of the NBA finals is tonight! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away. However, the 2025 Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy won’t be just simply handed to them, as Rick Carlisle and company have become known for historic comebacks this postseason.
Do they have one more in them? With Haliburton injured, can they even cover the spread?
Let’s. Talk. Hoops.
UPDATE: ESPN’s Shams Charania is reporting that Tyrese Haliburton has “every intention to play tonight.”
NBA Finals Game 6 Information
- Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
- #1 Oklahoma City Thunder visit #4 Indiana Pacers
- Previous Matchup: OKC 120-109, June 16, 2025
- Thunder Lead Series 3-2
Also, be sure to take a look at the best online sportsbooks filled with lots of NBA Finals odds!
Shai has plenty of reasons to smile but the job isn’t done yet.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers – NBA Finals Game 6
“Honestly, when we sucked as a basketball team, we weren’t worried about (…) respect,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said according to SI. “We were just, like, let’s — we’re not where we want to be. Let’s make sure that we get to where we want to be….”
The MVP said that in October and now in June, the Thunder franchise might do something it failed to do with prior MVPs Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. A total of 68 wins, but none of it will matter unless they lift Larry.
“The cusp of winning is not winning,” Shai said during media availability Wednesday.
Conversely, the Pacers have lost back-to-back games for the first time in months. They are hobbled and the engine may be running on fumes after a rip-roaring run this postseason. There is no shame in that. Rubber was burned.
They were down as many as 18 last game and never even held a lead in the second half of the basketball game. One thing that should be noted is that Myles Turner said this team was fueled by friendship. And now? Their friend and superstar is taking a lot of heat. Don’t be surprised if what’s been on the timeline has turned into bulletin-board material in their locker room.
Tyrese Haliburton is the FIRST player in NBA Finals HISTORY to record:
🧱 0 FG
🧱 0 STL
🧱 0 BLK
🧱 3+ TOV
🧱 3+ fouls
🧱 30+ MINSWorst Finals performance of all time? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/7uzaqfOWBP
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) June 17, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton’s NBA Finals Game 6 Status
Haliburton’s status is in question, but what’s not is how he has become limited in this series. Calf injuries are tricky and take time to heal. A few days of rest in June isn’t going to be enough. If you love Hali-Wagon, then you know he always finds another gear when the Blue & Gold need him.
His official status won’t be determined until later today. Unfortunately, for optimistic fans, the Pacers prepared for Game 6 with the understanding that they would be without their superstar.
UPDATE: June 19th 1:00 via the Pat McAfee show:
“Tyrese Haliburton has every intention of playing tonight..
He’s fully intending to be out there tonight”@ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JUD2YEKBBH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 19, 2025
#2 has already stepped up when the wheels have fallen off the Hali-wagon!
NBA Finals Game 6 Analysis
The last two games the Thunder have looked like a championship team. The one worry here is the Thunder’s ability to cover on the road. Elite teams win on the road and the Thunder do that plenty. However, The Oklahoma City Thunder are 1-8 (11.1%) against the spread in their last nine games on the road. Furthermore, the worry becomes suddenly losing the game because this Pacer team is obviously not one to be taken lightly no matter what.
Haliburton missed the last two games of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics with a hamstring strain. Just like a calf strain, it is not the kind of injury that heals fast or let’s you play with any burst. Fortunately, there is someone who definitely wants to rise to the occasion and already did.
The Pacers path to victory assuredly includes Andrew Nembhard. The Canadian kid and Gonzaga product is more of a natural point guard than off-ball player. He is a key reason why their offense works even with Haliburton. Just like Siakam, he can initiate the offense on-ball and play well off-ball. However, Nembhard is a confident hooper. He’s going to want all the shiny new touches coming his way.
Expect all the usual suspects too, but if the Pacers are revving their engines without Haliburton, I am predicting Nembhard is a big part of it. He has an underrated handle and when his confidence gains from midrange, then the three quickly follows. Conclusively, I am not treating this series like it is over.
2024 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 & 4 – Andrew Nembhard Stats:
- Game 3, 2024: 32 Points / 4 Rebounds / 9 Assists / 4-7 from Three
- Game 4, 2024: 24 Points / 6 Rebounds / 10 Assists / 3-6 from Three
Andrew Nembhard was never supposed to be here.
Playing for top D1 schools in Florida and Gonzaga, Nembhard declared for the NBA Draft 3 times.
But had a change of heart and went back to school for lack of interest.
When he finally made himself draft-eligible in 2022, he… pic.twitter.com/GqJIGJV1m8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 12, 2025
Key Outlier.Bet NBA Insights
- The Indiana Pacers are 20-5 (80.0%) in their last 25 games at home. There is a real possibility this team is out of gas. On the other hand, this team has inspired zombie memes and other comparisons to the undead for a reason. We shouldn’t forget that.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has exceeded 2.5 steals + blocks in five straight games (4.2 steals + blocks/game average). He will continue to be aggressive to close out the series.
- Andrew Nembhard has failed to exceed 18.5 pts + reb. + ast. in six of his last seven games at home (15.9 pts + reb + ast/game average). This is not a good precursor for what is about to follow, but I have to bring you all the information.
- Myles Turner has failed to exceed 13.5 points in four of his last five games at home (12.8 points/game average). They need more from the longest-tenured Pacer. His mentality is in the right place and if you believe in him, then check out this article.
Most STEALS + BLOCKS by a guard in Finals history (if series ended today):
SGA – 4.2 in 2025
MJ – 4.2 in 1991TWO-WAY SHAI. pic.twitter.com/jvU6VsIQ58
— NBA (@NBA) June 18, 2025
NBA Finals Game 6 Best Bet: Andrew Nembhard o18.5 PRA (-120)
I have to be honest, I am playing this because I saw what I saw in the last game and I just simply want to. Haliburton could come out miraculously, but for my money, I think I’ll have more fun backing the Canadian. This all hinges on the superstar being out and the Nembhard usage skyrocketing. I am a Celtics fan and he was incredibly impressive during the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals without his backcourt mate. I’m betting he rises to the occasion again.
Remember, he hit that amazing three over fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just minutes before Haliburton’s rightful headline stealer. Unfortunately, there is obviously the worry that he gets man-handled by Shai, and dragged into the Dort-ure Chamber, then mauled by a Bald Eagle. Yeah, don’t tail this.
But if you want…
Jump to 15:55 of this video for some more convincing:
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