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Dominant Pacers Keep Championship Hopes Alive
With elimination looming and doubts swirling around the fitness of their star player, the Indiana Pacers delivered a resounding statement in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Backed by a gutsy performance from Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder 108–91, tying the series at 3–3 and setting the stage for a decisive Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Despite nursing a sore right calf, Haliburton came out firing. The All-Star guard played just 22 minutes but racked up 14 points, including 12 in the first half, injecting energy and belief into his team. His standout moment came on a fast break where he stole the ball from Jalen Williams and, with a no-look pass, set up Pascal Siakam for a thunderous dunk that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
“I would’ve been really hard on myself if I didn’t at least try,” Haliburton said postgame. He told reporters that he had warned coach Rick Carlisle to bench him if his injury prevented him from playing at full speed—but that wasn’t necessary.
Thunder Falter After Fast Start
Oklahoma City appeared to have the upper hand early, jumping out as the Pacers missed their first eight shots. But once Siakam found his rhythm late in the first quarter, the momentum flipped. Indiana outscored OKC 68–34 over the next 24 minutes, taking firm control of the game.
Siakam, a key contender for Finals MVP should Indiana pull off the comeback, finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. His presence inside and composure in key moments helped the Pacers break away and never look back.
Bench Power Propels Indiana
Just like in Game 3, Indiana’s bench proved pivotal. The second unit combined for 48 points, with Obi Toppin leading the way with 20 points and six rebounds. T.J. McConnell, a fan favorite in Indianapolis, added 12 points, nine boards, and six assists, making an impact on both ends of the floor.
By halftime, the Pacers had already built a 12-point lead—their largest at any point in the series. They extended that gap to a massive 31 points in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Thunder, who dominated the Western Conference this season, looked nothing like the team that had stormed through the playoffs.
2025 Playoff Bracket Predictions: Madrid and Valencia on Collision Course
While the NBA Finals head toward a dramatic conclusion, the Spanish basketball playoffs are also reaching a fever pitch. Fans participating in the official 2025 Playoff Bracket contest have made their voices heard, with Real Madrid and Valencia Basket emerging as the favorites for the championship.
Semifinal Picks: Hits and Misses
In the semifinals, 61.4% of users correctly predicted Real Madrid would defeat Unicaja, with 18.2% even nailing the exact 3–1 series result. Meanwhile, Valencia Basket’s sweep over La Laguna Tenerife was forecast by a hefty 72.4% of participants, though only 3.6% anticipated a 3–0 series score.
Correct Picks by Series Winner:
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Real Madrid: 61.4%
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Valencia Basket: 72.4%
Exact Score Predictions:
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Real Madrid 3–1: 18.2%
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Valencia Basket 3–0: 3.6%
Final Forecast: Madrid Leads the Pack
As attention shifts to the final, Real Madrid stands as the top pick among users, with 46.4% predicting they’ll claim the title. Valencia Basket trails with 18.6%, but still commands significant support.
Predicted Champion:
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Real Madrid: 46.4%
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Valencia Basket: 18.6%
Most Popular Final Scores
When it comes to exact results in the final, the prediction game gets even more interesting. The most common choice is a 3–1 win for Real Madrid, selected by 20.4% of users. Other notable guesses include:
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Real Madrid 3–2: 9.6%
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Valencia Basket 2–3: 8.8%
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Real Madrid 3–0: 4.4%
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Valencia Basket 1–3: 3%
Perfect Brackets No More
Following the quarterfinals, 151 users still had perfect brackets. Now, with the semifinals complete, that number has dropped to zero—especially for those who had placed their Bonus prediction during this round.
The final outcome is still up in the air, both in Spain and across the Atlantic in the NBA Finals, where Sunday’s Game 7 between Indiana and Oklahoma City promises to deliver high drama and a new champion.
