Five takeaways from Game 6 of the NBA Finals: Pacers live up to their reputation

2. The Pacers were more controlled

The Pacers play fast, but it had been their undoing in the series. Too many times the Pacers went too fast, turning the ball over and taking quick shots. 

In Game 6, the Pacers protected the ball better than they had all series, committing just 10 turnovers. It was their fewest turnovers since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It led to far more opportunities. Indiana had 57 shooting plays in the first half, while OKC had just 42. The massive difference led to a big Indiana lead that was never relinquished.

Indiana still got out and ran, but fewer jump passes meant fewer turnovers, and quicker ball movement did not allow OKC to bring a second defender to the ball.

3. Did the Thunder get off the bus?

Outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, it appeared most of the Thunder didn't even report to the arena. SGA scored a series-low 21 points, while Williams added 16. Gilgeous-Alexander was badgered all night, tying his career-worst with eight turnovers.

Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort combined for seven points on 3-of-14 shooting. The Thunder shot a woeful 8-of-30 from three-point land and turned the ball over 21 times.

OKC sat its starters for the entire fourth quarter. There's not a single stat or stretch of the game outside of the initial 10-2 run that was positive for the Thunder. It was simply an awful night.

4. Tyrese Haliburton deserves all the praise

It was a game-time decision whether Haliburton would play in Game 6 after straining his right calf in Game 5. Over the years, there have been many Finals heroics from injured stars, and Haliburton can add his name to the list. 

He finished with 14 points, five assists, two steals and just one turnover in 23 minutes. His services were not needed in the fourth quarter with the game pretty much decided. He hit three three-pointers and controlled the tempo of the game.

Does he have enough for an encore in Game 7? He will have another two-plus days of rest. Another performance like Game 6, and he will certainly go down in history for his effort.

5. The Pacers lived up to their reputation

All season, and especially in the playoffs, Indiana has been billed as a "no quit" team. Facing a 3-2 deficit, the Pacers proved that's exactly who they are when it mattered most. 

The first few minutes looked like the Thunder might run away with it, pop champagne and take the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Oklahoma with them. But that's not who the Pacers are.

Indiana fought back, grabbed a 13-12 lead with 6:42 to play in the first and stuck it to the Thunder for the remainder of the game. Indiana's defensive intensity looked like a team with its season on the line. Its energy and cohesiveness on the offensive end led to a focused destruction.