DESPITE being on the precipice of an NBA championship, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s MVP and scoring champion, is making a concerted effort to keep his mind from wandering to what could be.
He’s deliberately avoiding thoughts of the NBA Finals, the feel of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, or the ensuing celebrations.
The Thunder are just one victory away from securing the title, with Game 6 set to tip off on Thursday night (Friday, June 20, 2025, PH time) against a potentially shorthanded Indiana Pacers team.
While it’s clearly a momentous occasion, Gilgeous-Alexander is striving to treat it like any other game. “The cusp of winning is not winning,” he stated. “The way I see it, winning is all that matters. It hasn’t been fulfilled. We haven’t done anything.”
While technically true, this downplays the Thunder’s remarkable journey, which includes 83 wins and a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. They’ve overcome deficits against both Denver and Indiana, positioning the franchise closer to a championship than ever before since moving to Oklahoma City.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault reinforces this tunnel vision. “We want to win the game tomorrow, but the most important thing we need to do to win the game tomorrow is prepare today and prepare tomorrow and play the first possession really well, then the next possession, then the next possession,” Daigneault explained. “That’s how we try to approach a game, how we try to approach the playoff series, how we try to approach every single day and let that win the day.”
The Pacers are bracing for an electric atmosphere in what will be their final home game of the season. A major question mark for them is the availability of Tyrese Haliburton, whose right calf strain makes his status uncertain until Thursday.
Pacers forward Pascal Siakam shares a similar “next game” mentality. “I think that’s all we can do, right? Think about the next game,” Siakam said. “It’s a great opportunity in front of our fans... We have a chance at home, NBA Finals. It’s a good opportunity. That’s all it is.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is stressing two key improvements: reducing turnovers (Indiana had 23 in Game 5) and limiting OKC’s offensive rebounding, crucial adjustments regardless of Haliburton’s play.
Carlisle cited the Pacers’ experience last season, when they overcame a 3-2 deficit in the second round. “What we need to do is buckle down. Stand strong. I anticipate one of the best crowds in the history of Gainbridge Fieldhouse,” Carlisle stated. “We’ve got to find a way. The ultimate is to get to a Game 7... But we’ve got to take care of home court tomorrow to do that.”
Since 2000, teams are 25-13 in championship-clinching games. The Thunder aim to be among the 20 teams in the last 25 seasons to win on their first attempt.
A win in Game 6 or Game 7 would give the Thunder 84 total wins this season, a rare feat achieved by only three other teams: the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (88 wins), 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (87 wins), and the 1996-97 Bulls (84 wins). / From the wires