Finals G6 Preview: Alexander strives for championship + FMVP, Harry is suspected of playing due to injury

At 8:30 am on June 20, the NBA Finals will usher in the sixth game, and the Pacers will return to their home court to play against the Thunder. In the first five games, the Thunder led the Pacers 3-2 in total score, just one step away from the first NBA championship in the history of Russia City. Alexander is expected to win the championship trophy and the FMVP trophy, and Halliburton is suspected of playing due to injury.

Thunder coach Dai Gnott believes that the key to preparing for the sixth game in the finals lies in "thinking from the perspective of others." "We always try to think from the perspective of our opponents," said Dagnot. "Paul's 'start from scratch' mentality. We will not introduce any new tactics now, we will only rely on long-term established psychological habits."

For Pacers coach Carlisle, the challenge may be even more difficult - his team needs to beat the Thunder two consecutive games without fully recovering. Carlisle said that the Pacers will not be able to truly judge Halliburton's playing state until the sixth game, and they are striving to drag the series into a tiebreak.

Carlisle revealed that Halliburton participated in the team's joint training, but "no real run" during the 30-minute training. "It depends on who you ask. I have to weigh the risks and ask the right questions," Halliburton said of the decision to play. "But I am a contender, I want to play and I will do everything I can to play." In the third game of the finals, Halliburton scored 22 points and was short of one rebound to complete a triple-double, helping the Pacers win. But since then, a calf strain has affected his performance. When the Thunder reversed from 1-2 to 3-2, Halliburton made 7 of 21 shots in the last two games (11 of 3-pointers), playing in 70 minutes and scored only 22 points.

"You can't underestimate the great player," said Dagnot. "If he (Halliburton) plays, we will meet his strongest attack; if he is out, we will face the Pacers' full-scale counterattack." In the

series, key gentlemen emerged in both teams' rotation positions: Behind Halliburton's quasi-tripled double in the third game, the Pacers scored 49 points (Mathering 27 points, McConnell 5 steals); in the Eastern Conference semi-finals last year, Nembhard changed to the point guard when Halliburton was absent, helping the Pacers reverse the Knicks.

"Obviously Halliburton is our core," Siakam said, "but whether he plays or not, the team needs to stand up. The importance of this game requires everyone to move forward. This is a battle for all members." In the Battle of Tianwang Mountain, Siakam contributed 28 points - if the Pacers want to compete with the "dual-core impact" of the Thunder, he needs to continue this performance.

Alexander scored 66 points in the past two games, and the spotlight also belongs to Jaylen Williams - he scored 67 points in the same period. In the fifth game, facing the Pacers' "double-team ball holder" defense, Jiewei scored 40 points.

Alexander said: "Standing on the verge of winning does not mean winning the championship. In my opinion, only winning is meaningful." He praised the culture and environment built by the team, allowing the Thunder to complete its transformation. "So far this season, the cohesion in the locker room and the team's fighting fun have supported us, focusing on Game 6, becoming the best version the team needs - no matter how many games, how many rounds, or how many moments, we must live in the present."

It is worth noting that the Thunder once led the Nuggets 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Western Conference Finals this season, but they lost the sixth game and advanced to the next round through a tiebreak. Carlisle hopes the Pacers learn from their experience when they were behind the Knicks last year - the energy of home fans helped them turn the tables in Game 6. "Go to your best and stand your ground," he stressed to the team. But what the Pacers have to face is Alexander and Jewish who averaged 60+ points per game in the last three games.

Degnot did not talk too much about the meaning of winning the championship, but emphasized the process: "We always treat everything with 'cumulative thinking', even during the reconstruction period. You cannot skip any step in the process. We want to win tomorrow's game, but the most important thing is to prepare today and tomorrow, play every round, and focus on the present - once your thoughts float to the past or the future, it will affect your ability to accumulate success."

Injury List

Thunder: Nikola Topic was missing

Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, Jares Walker were absent, Halliburton was doubtful

ESPN predicted G6 winning rate: Thunder 56.4%, Pacers 43.6%