Thunder Underdogs Face Must-Win in Game 7 of NBA Finals: Can Oklahoma City Avoid Elimination?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are facing a must-win situation in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. After getting blown out in Game 6, the Thunder are now an 8.5-point underdog at BetMGM, with the Pacers favored to win at +290 and the Thunder at -375. The Pacers emphatically forced Game 7 on Thursday night with a 108-91 win that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Indiana went on a monster run to take a 22-point lead at halftime and extended the lead to 30 before the start of the fourth quarter. The Pacers did all that after starting 0 of 8 from the field, but still managed to outscore the Thunder by 17 in the second half. Five Pacers scored in double figures, led by Obi Toppin's 20 points off the bench and 4 of 7 from behind the 3-point line. The Thunder had a quick 10-2 lead but trailed 34-33 during the second quarter, and the score at halftime was 64-42 in favor of Indiana. This is Indiana's first seven-game series of the playoffs and the second for the Thunder. Oklahoma City went to seven games in the second round with Denver and the Finals have looked a lot like that Denver series. The Nuggets swiped Game 1 in OKC before the Thunder had a big bounce back in Game 2. Denver then won Game 3 before the Thunder won Game 4 and Game 5, but lost convincingly on the road in Game 6. The Thunder have been favored in all seven games so far this series, but they will need to find a way to turn things around if they want to avoid elimination. The Pacers have been playing with confidence and momentum, and it will be up to the Thunder to find a way to slow them down and get back into this series. If you think Indiana is going to score the series win, avoiding the spread and going straight to the moneyline is the play. The Pacers are +290 to win Game 7 while the Thunder are -375. It will be an exciting finish to this thrilling series, and we'll have to wait and see if the Thunder can pull off another Game 7 comeback.
The Thunder Underdogs, fueled by a brimming undercurrent of determination and gritty toughness in the fizzling air around The Arena tonight'sintensest Game 7WILL be tasked with pulling off one hellacious upset againstNBA Most ImprovedTeam the mighty Pacers.
