The NBA season could come to a close on Thursday night as Game 6 of the NBA Finals sees the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the Indiana Pacers 3-2. The matchup takes place in Indianapolis, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for Sunday if needed.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are just one victory away from clinching the NBA championship. Gilgeous-Alexander himself is on the verge of an exceptional season in terms of individual achievements. He is currently the frontrunner for the NBA Finals MVP award and has already secured the NBA MVP title for the season. If he wins the Finals MVP, he would be the first player since LeBron James in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to achieve both honors in the same season.
Furthermore, Gilgeous-Alexander is also the reigning scoring champion, potentially setting him up to enter a very exclusive group. Only three players in NBA history – Michael Jordan four times, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once each – have won MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title, and a championship in a single season. Gilgeous-Alexander could join this elite group if the Thunder secure the title.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are waiting on news regarding guard Tyrese Haliburton’s availability for Game 6 as he deals with a strained right calf. This Thursday also marks the 25th anniversary of Indiana’s last appearance in the NBA Finals before this current season. On June 19, 2000, Shaquille O’Neal completed his remarkable season by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the Pacers in Game 6.
Should the Pacers manage to stave off elimination on Thursday and force a Game 7, it will be held on Sunday in Oklahoma City. For more NBA updates, visit the AP NBA site at https://apnews.com/nba.
