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Victor Petkov
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Pacers force Game Seven after dominant win over Thunder in Indianapolis
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This will be the first championship since 2016 that will be decided in seventh game

For the first time in nine years, the NBA Finals are heading to a deciding Game 7, after the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 to level the series at 3-3.

The Pacers produced a well-rounded offensive display in front of their home crowd in Indianapolis, highlighted by 20 points from Obi Toppin off the bench. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who missed Game 5 due to a calf injury, passed a late fitness test and made a strong impact in limited minutes, finishing with 14 points, five assists, and two steals in just 22 minutes.

“We just wanted to protect our court,” Haliburton said postgame. “We didn’t want to see those guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, we just responded. So many different guys chipped in. It was a whole team effort. I’m really proud of this group.”

The Thunder, seeking their first NBA title since 1979, struggled out of the gate, missing their first eight shots and falling into an early hole. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to close out the series.

“Credit Indiana,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game.”

This will be the 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history, with the home team winning 15 times. Game 7 is set for Sunday in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to regroup and prevent the Pacers from claiming their first-ever NBA Championship.