Not so fast

INDIANA (AFP) — The Indiana Pacers, rallying around injured star Tyrese Haliburton, crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-91, to force a decisive Game 7 in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals on Friday (Manila time).

Haliburton, cleared to play with a right calf injury only a couple of hours before tipoff, scored 14 points with five assists and two steals in a solid contribution to a comprehensive team effort.

“We just wanted to protect home court,” Haliburton said.

“We didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor.”

“Backs against the wall, we just responded,” he added.

“So many different guys chipped in, total team effort. I’m really proud of this group.”

Obi Toppin led the Pacers in scoring with 20 points off the bench as Indiana’s reserves outscored Oklahoma City’s bench, 48-37.

Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Pacers, who had lost the last two games to stand on the brink of elimination, leveled the best-of-seven championship series at three games apiece.

Haliburton, who said he would do everything he could to play after limping through most of Game 5, showed virtually no sign of his injury as the Pacers grabbed the game by the throat in the second quarter and never let go.

Indiana led by 22 points at halftime and by as many as 31 early in the fourth quarter.

“Well, we were going home if we didn’t come out and give everything we have and leave it all out on the floor,” said T.J. McConnell, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists off the bench for Indiana.

“Obviously very happy, very proud, but we’ve got to flush it because we have another one on Sunday.”

NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 21 points but had eight of the Thunder’s 21 turnovers.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed his lone three-point attempt while Jalen Williams — coming off a 40-point performance in game five — missed all four of his three-point attempts on the way to 16 points.

The Thunder, winners of a league-best 68 regular-season games, pulled their starters after falling behind by 30 going into the fourth quarter.