The last time the NBA Finals went to a Game 7 was in 2016. Now, nearly a decade later, we are once again on the edge of basketball’s biggest stage as the Pacers and Thunder head into a decisive Game 7. No one in either fan base can escape the pressure right now.
With tension in the air, everyone appears locked in. But Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is urging his teammates to stay humble and not get swept up in the growing hype. He believes that kind of distraction can be dangerous.
Tyrese Haliburton Warns Team to Stay Focused Before Game 7
The Pacers just won a must-win matchup Thursday with a 108–91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6. Now the series will be decided on Sunday, with Game 7 set to take place in Oklahoma City. Haliburton knows the pressure will be unlike anything they’ve faced. One mistake could end their season.
After the win, Haliburton addressed the media and sent a clear message to the locker room. He said, “For the next two days, everybody’s gonna be talking about how good we looked, how well we played, how much pressure is on OKC. That’s gonna be the narrative. We gotta do a good job of staying away from that stuff. I think that can be poison.”
Tyrese Haliburton:
“For the next two days, everybody’s gonna be talking about how good we looked, how well we played, how much pressure is on OKC. That’s gonna be the narrative. We gotta do a good job of staying away from that stuff. I think that can be poison” pic.twitter.com/c7MNGov9MB
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 20, 2025
Despite playing through a right calf strain, Haliburton scored 14 points and had 5 assists in Game 6, helping Indiana force the first NBA Finals Game 7 in almost 10 years. But he knows that overconfidence or outside distractions could break their momentum going into Oklahoma City.
It’s not just Haliburton, every Pacer knows how strong their opponent is. History adds more pressure to the moment. The Thunder are 10–2 at home this postseason. The Pacers are 7–4 on the road.
Those numbers show Indiana can handle pressure, but the Thunder’s home record is tough to ignore. In NBA Finals Game 7 history, the home team has won 15 of 19 times, giving them a win percentage of nearly 79 percent. The Pacers are not the favorites.
Indiana has never won an NBA title in franchise history and now sits one win away from changing that. The Thunder are also chasing their first title since moving from Seattle. With Game 7 just two days away, both teams are hungry. Whoever can stay calm and focused amid the noise and pressure will almost certainly be lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
