Yes, the Thunder have won 2 straight now and seem to have their championship swagger back, and yes, Tyrese Haliburton is banged up and will likely prove to be a non-factor in game #6. But in my view the Pacers have a deep enough bench to minimize Haliburton's depreciation - at least for one game. The Thunder couldn't save their season a year ago in a road game 6 in the WC semi-final round and failed to clinch in game 6 on the road in Denver a month ago. Candidly, I don't doubt that OKC will snare the Larry O' Brien trophy this season ... I just don't think they'll do it tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse - the loyal Indiana fans and the Pacemates simply won't allow it.
The Pacers are like insufferable gnats or mosquitoes that just seem to never go away. In game 5, OKC should've "boat-raced" 'em but failed to fully kick 'em off the ladder and Indy nearly stole a cover at the end of the game. It's almost like the Pacers can't get motivated unless they first fall behind by 12, 15, or 18 points. From a technical standpoint, everybody should know by now that OKC is a wallet-draining 2-9 SU/ATS on the playoff road off a win by more than 10 points when facing a team coming off a SU loss; the Thunder are also 3-4 SU/1-6 ATS in these playoffs off 2 or more consecutive wins and 0-2 SU in games #6 over past 2 seasons (both games played away from Paycom Center). On the flip side, the Pacers are 13-5 SU at home in the playoffs over the past 2 seasons, losing consecutive home games only once - those were narrow losses to Boston last year in the ECF - both losses would've covered the spread posted for this contest tonight. Haliburton's injury notwithstanding, I think the Pacers have one last rabbit in their magical top hat ... let's play Indy for 1 unit, half on the spread, half on the money-line at +210. I want a GAME 7!
I also see value in Indy's 1st half team total (54.5/55) - in Indy's 4 home PLO games off a loss, they've averaged 67ppg in 1st half action. BOL to all players!