Basketball Intelligence For 6/20/25

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

Basketball Intelligence

Jun 20, 2025

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THE FINALS

Film Study: Pacers turn up defensive pressure to quiet OKC and force a Game 7
John Schuhmann, NBA.com

Thunder wilt in first crack at NBA title, setting up Game 7 for ‘everything’ or ‘nothing’
Anthony Slater, The Athletic

Game 6 Observations
Iztok Franko, digginbasketball

In praise of Pascal Siakam
Sam Amick, The Athletic

Game 6 Observations
Jared Dubin, Last Night In Basketball

T.J. McConnell brings the energy for the Pacers, who need him more than ever
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic

Haliburton grits through calf strain to will Pacers to NBA Finals Game 7
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star

5 Game Six takeaways
Shaun Powell, NBA.com

The Pacers Have That Underdog in Them
Danny Chau, The Ringer

With their backs against the wall and their best player hobbled by an injury, the Pacers conjured a different kind of miracle to force a Game 7

Tyrese Haliburton’s biggest moment in Game 6 was simply showing up
Shakeia Taylor, The Athletic

NBA Finals Going the Distance
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files

Facing elimination, the Pacers delivered their best performance of the series — limiting turnovers, tightening up defensively, and knocking down timely 3s with contributions across the board.

Pacers won Game 6 with hobbled Tyrese Haliburton the way they had to — with all of them
Nate Atkins, Indy Star

OKC flops in 'uncharacteristic' dud in Game 6
Tim MacMahon, ESPN

Biggest takeaways from Game 6
ESPN

Pacers force winner-take-all
Jamal Collier, ESPN

Haliburton, Indiana once again rise to the challenge
Vincent Goodwill, Yahoo Sports

Perhaps the signal was Carlisle not messing around with Haliburton’s status, coming right out in pregame and saying Haliburton was ready to go and that his injured calf could handle the rigors of the biggest game in franchise history.
"What's the point? I mean, this time of year, playing games isn't going to get you anywhere,” Carlisle said 90 minutes before game time. “We got a job to do tonight. We've got to get ready to battle a team that has been the best team in the league all year long. It's a tough game. It's an elimination game. There's a lot going on.”

Thunder vs. Pacers winners and losers: NBA Finals going to Game 7
Jeff Zillgitt/Lorenzo Reyes, USA Today

Haliburton Overcomes Injury in Pacers’ Blowout Win to Force Game 7
Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated

Indiana's D has been better than OKC's historically great unit
Mike Shearer, Basketball Poetry

Haliburton, Pacers pummel Thunder to force Game 7
Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman

Indiana relies on an arsenal of weapons to overcome a slow start
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com

Haliburton Inspires, Pacers' Defense Swarms, Indiana Forces Game 7
Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes

Pacers saved their season by dominating the margins in Game 6
James Herbert, CBS Sports

Pacers force Game 7
Samson Folk, Basketball She Wrote