Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle credited his team’s improved ball control and mental toughness in their 108-91 victory over Oklahoma City in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The win forced a decisive Game 7 on Sunday at Paycom Center.
“We played better,” Carlisle said when asked about limiting turnovers compared to the previous game. “We were in where we should be most of the time… We had some that weren’t great ones, but when we made a mistake, we bounced back well. And that’s what you got to do this kind of time of year.”
Tyrese Haliburton’s willingness to play through a calf injury was a key storyline. Carlisle downplayed any drama around his status. “He was straightforward. He didn’t want a lot of attention. He was doing everything possible to be able to play,” the coach said. Haliburton contributed 14 points and five assists despite his condition.
The Pacers overcame an early deficit thanks to a dominant second and third quarter, outscoring the Thunder 68-32 in that stretch. Carlisle highlighted the impact of the crowd at Gamebridge Arena, calling it the loudest environment he’s experienced in a Finals game. “Our crowd was spectacular tonight,” he said. “It was absolutely tremendous.”
T.J. McConnell’s energy and effort were singled out as well. “TJ’s a big part of what we do,” Carlisle noted. McConnell finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, sparking Indiana’s second unit which outscored Oklahoma City’s bench 48-38.
Defensively, the Pacers made it difficult for the Thunder to find a rhythm. Carlisle explained their focus was on making the game hard for Oklahoma City. “At this point, any talk about things in the past is really meaningless. It’s one game, and it’s the ultimate game.”
Asked about the challenge of winning a championship, Carlisle reflected on the difficulty of the journey. “Everybody coaching in the NBA has a very good idea because Chuck Daly once said, if people had any idea how difficult it was to win one game in the NBA… they would be shocked.”
Looking ahead, Carlisle emphasized the need to stay focused for Game 7. “We’ve got to play at such a high level for us to have a chance. This will be a monumental challenge.”
Game 7 will be played Sunday in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will try to defend their home court and clinch their first NBA title.
