Thunder's Slump and Pacers' Triumph: Hartenstein's Squad Faces Clutch Game 7 after Disappointing Showing
Hardenstein's Thunder Experiences Defeat, Forced into a Do-Or-Die Scenario
Chatter Share Share on Viber Email Print Copy Link It's game over for Oklahoma City Thunder's first NBA title bid: The team with German center Isaiah Hartenstein faltered drastically in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Hartenstein's nerves got the better of him, resulting in a missed title-clinching opportunity for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The regular season's front-runners suffered a staggering defeat to the Indiana Pacers 91-108, tying the best-of-seven championship series at 3-3. The nail-biting finale takes place in OKC on Monday (02:00 CEST/ProSieben MAXX).
Hartenstein had a chance to bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy to the basketball league as the second German after Dirk Nowitzki, who won with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. However, OKC's form left much to be desired, with Hartenstein struggling for consistency.
In a surprising turn, the favorites had seized the lead for the first time in the championship series’ early hours, clinching a match point (120-109) in front of their enthusiastic home crowd. As in Game 5, Hartenstein kicked off the action, but the Pacers took a strong advantage from the outset. Despite a promising start, the game quickly turned against the Thunder, beginning with a 10-2 lead for the Pacers (4th minute), that grew to a significant 17-point deficit (9th minute).
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana's star man whose presence was uncertain due to calf problems until just before the game, set the tone with an energetic start, in stark contrast to his performance in the previous game. The Pacers racked up the three-pointers throughout the first half, while the Thunder missed most of their attempts. Consequently, the gap began to widen steadily. By halftime, the Pacers had asserted their dominance with an impressive 42-64 scoreline.
Sports "Collision of Titans" Super Leagues' Clash Alarmingly Terrifying: NBA's Ambitious Plans Frighten Europe The Thunder appeared to crumble under the pressure of their potential triumph in Indianapolis, in front of 17,274 spectators. Hartenstein briefly managed to catch up with his team's scoring count after subbing in during the second half, but only after a late scoring drought of more than five minutes. The Pacers controlled the game, countering the Thunder's attempts to close the gap.
Early on, it was clear that the NBA title would not be won on this evening, with the score standing at 60-90 as the teams entered the final quarter. The Thunder's dismal three-point shooting percentage of only 15% (3 out of 20) seeing them fail to make a dent in the Pacers' advantage. With expert coaching from Mark Daigneault, the Thunder's starters were rotated early.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's top scorer with 21 points, contributed to eight of the team's 21 turnovers. Hartenstein contributed 10 points and nabbed four rebounds. The Pacers’ leading scorer, who demonstrated impressive teamwork to fend off elimination in their own arena, was Obi Toppin (20).
Four Germans have previously fallen short in the NBA Finals: Detlef Schrempf (1996), Nowitzki (2006), Daniel Theis (2022), and most recently Maximilian Kleber (2024). However, Hartenstein now has the chance with Oklahoma City to turn disappointment into triumph in the final game of the series at home.
[1] Gameday Recap: Indiana Pacers 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 91[2] Analysis: Indiana Pacers dominant in Game 6, end Thunder's Finals dream[3] Game 6: Indiana Pacers 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 91[4] Postgame Reaction: Thunder players hope to learn from Game 6 defeat to Pacers
Basketball playoffs continue to unfold as the Oklahoma City Thunder face a crucial Game 7, following their disappointing showing in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Analysts suggest that the Thunder's form, particularly German center Isaiah Hartenstein's inconsistency, could play a significant role in the upcoming match. The Thunder, known for their basketball prowess, will be looking to overcome their slump and secure a spot in the NBA championship, hoping to aviod joining the list of Germans who fell short in the NBA Finals.
