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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Admission After Thunder's Game 6 Loss vs. Pacers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder went into Indiana with momentum on their side, coming off back-to-back wins in Games 4 and 5 that appeared to deflate all the good karma and magical vibes that had been buitl up around Indiana heading into the championship round. OKC was deeper, more talented and primed to take that mysterious next step from good team to a great one.

With Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton struggling because of a calf injury suffered in Game 5, all signs pointed to a Thunder win in Game 6 and the team's first championship since moving from Seattle.

Except they could not hold onto the ball. The Thunder entered Game 6 as a team that had dominated others throughout the postseason with its ability to force turnovers and generate points off those turnovers. On Thursday, though, the tables were turned.

The Pacers led the turnover battle, 12-2, at halftime and finished up with just 10 turnovers to 21 for OKC. Indiana outscored the Thunder by 14 points off of turnovers. The Pacers won, 108-91, in a game that was not really that close.

Eight of those TOs were committed by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 21 points in defeat.

After the game, SGA blamed the Thunder's poor showing on the team's mindset, focused on coming out and winning a championship without paying attention to the details of the game.

Winning the title, he said, was, "Definitely in the back of our minds, for sure. Now, we didn't play like it at all. That's why the night went the way it did. We got exactly what we deserved, what we earned. We have to own that."

Gilgeous-Alexander admitted after the game that he'd been taught a thing or two in Game 6, by both the Pacers and the Thunder reserves who took the garbage-time minutes.

Sitting on the bench during the blowout in the fourth quarter, he said he was, "Thinking about what you could have did better or what I could have did better tonight. Also, watching the group on the floor was impressive. They were great. They haven't played all series, then they go out there and play as hard as they did, it was inspiring. They were really good tonight.

"Kind of taught me a lesson. Then just trying to do everything I can, everything I can learn from to get ready for the next game."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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