5 Key Factors Indiana Pacers Must Consider To Win Game 6

Pascal Siakam has proven that when he’s aggressive, he carries the Pacers. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam earned MVP honors by averaging 24.8 PPG, slicing through defenses and punishing mismatches. His ability to maintain pressure in the paint and punish switches is exactly what Indiana needs, especially in half-court sets against OKC’s switch-heavy defense.

During Game 5, Siakam scored 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 3-6 from three, yet OKC contained him enough in key stretches that Indiana failed to sustain offensive momentum. For Game 6, the strategy is clear: free Siakam early, roll him off screens aggressively, and let him dictate the paint flow.

On the biggest stage, Siakam already has Finals pedigree. Back in 2019, he dropped 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting in Game 1 against Golden State and delivered 26 and the clincher in Game 6. If he reclaims that relentless mindset, Indiana’s offense could pivot from stagnant to unstoppable.

2. Find A Way To Make Tyrese Haliburton Effective, Even If He's Hurt 

Tyrese Haliburton is playing through a serious right calf issue, which sidelined his rhythm in Game 5. He missed all six FG attempts and managed just four points, though he still contributed six assists and seven rebounds. So far in the Finals, he is averaging 15.0 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 6.2 RPG across the series.

Rick Carlisle must devise ways to hide Haliburton’s limited mobility, spacing the floor to free him for catch-and-shoot jumpers, or deploying ball screens that let him hit pull-ups over help defense. Indiana's bench must increase defensive intensity, allowing Haliburton needed rest, while still maintaining the offense’s tempo and structure.

Haliburton is a floor general with an incredible assist-to-turnover ratio (5.61 AST/TO) in the season. Even in shortened spurts, his basketball IQ and passing can ignite the game. If Carlisle can tailor set plays around his mobility, Haliburton could have critical bursts that swing the game.

3. Don't Get Baited Into Foul Shots 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a master of drawing fouls, averaging 8.8 FTA per game in the 2024–25 season and getting to the line for 9.4 attempts in the postseason so far. In Game 4, SGA expertly baited defenders into fouls, converting free throws at a 100% clip (10-10), extending drives, and killing momentum.

In Game 5, Oklahoma City kept Siakam off-ball to clog the lane and leaned into SGA as its primary initiator, forcing Indiana into foul trouble and ensuring SGA got to the line repeatedly, going 13-14. Quite frankly, fouling SGA means you are giving away free points and stopping the clock at the same time.

Pacers defenders must stay disciplined, fight through screens, resist swiping at the ball, and contest shots vertically instead of lunging. Every foul conceded is free points that the Thunder are banking on. Minimizing these will force SGA into tough field-goal attempts and keep Indiana’s defensive structure intact.

4. Focus Entirely On SGA And Jalen Williams Defensively 

Together, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.4 PPG in the Finals) and Jalen Williams (40 points in Game 5) are a two-man wrecking crew. In Game 5, they combined for 71 points, with Williams turning in 40 on 14-of-25 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three. The duo completely took over the critical Game 5 and the Pacers won't survive the series if it happens again.

Indiana must turn all defensive attention to containing those two, rotate the best defenders to them, use double-teams, and clearly communicate coverages. Force Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and others to beat you. Letting either one roam free will lead to the same outcome as Game 5, a 120-109 defeat.

Disciplined rotations and help defense are key. If both stars are contained on the same possession, OKC’s role players will struggle to replicate that efficiency. Holding that duo under 60% TS could tilt the entire board back toward Indiana.

5. Play T.J. McConnell Heavy Minutes 

T.J. McConnell delivered a spark in Game 5 with 18 points (8-14 FG) in just 22 minutes, adding four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. His scrappy energy helped bridge gaps when Haliburton was stagnant, giving Indiana a secondary push.

With Haliburton hobbled, McConnell's court awareness and defensive intensity make him the perfect catalyst. His career as a high-energy reserve guard, averaging 7.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG in 21.1 MPG, proves he can thrive off the bench. 

But in this series against the OKC Thunder, he is even better. The point guard is currently posting 11.2 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 RPG, and 2.0 SPG, showing that he is one of the best Pacers players in this NBA Finals.

Carlisle should lean hard on McConnell, longer shifts, late-clock decision-making, and a green light to shoot in flow. If Indiana can ride McConnell’s momentum, even intermittently, it keeps the Thunder off balance and Haliburton rested for crunch-time possessions.