After 9 years, the finals will be tiebreaker again! It is not certain who will win the championship if you win?

The sixth game of the 2025 NBA Finals ended at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. The Thunder, who played at home, lost to the Pacers 91-108, and the series score was tied 3-3. This is the NBA Finals' tiebreaker after nine years since the epic showdown between the Cavaliers and the Warriors in 2016. Two teams that have never scored the championship will fight to the final battle in Indianapolis, and no matter what the final result is, they are destined to give birth to a new champion.

**1, G6 review: Pacers suffocate the defense and snatch the Thunder counterattack**

This game can be regarded as the Pacers' defensive textbook. They used the league's top rotation speed to suppress the Thunder's three-point shooting percentage to 28.6%. Although star Shay Gilgers-Alexander (SGA) scored 31 points, he made only 1 of 7 shots from outside the three-point line. The "1-3-1 joint defense" produced by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle caused the Thunder's offense to stagnate many times, and a 18-4 offensive climax in the middle of the third quarter directly established the victory. Halliburton and Miles Turner's pick-and-roll combination contributed 47 points, and the latter gave out 5 blocks, completely dominating the paint area.

**2. History repeats itself? The revelation of the tiebreak nine years ago**

The shadow of the tiebreak battle in 2016 is shrouding the Thunder team. Durant Westbrook's combination was reversed by the Warriors while leading 3-1. Now the core Chet Homgren admitted in a post-match interview: "We have studied all the tiebreak videos, including the 2016 game." It is interesting to note that current Pacers assistant coach David West was a member of the Warriors' champion that year. However, historical data is slightly beneficial to the Thunder - the teams that lost G6 at home in NBA history have a away winning rate of 58.3% in tiebreak.

**3, X-factor duel: The secret battle on the bench **

series, the two teams' substitutes have only 1.2 points apart, but G6 Pacers bench bandit Ben Mathurin scored 17 points and became the surprise. In terms of the Thunder, Isaiah Joe's outside feel has continued to be cold, with a total of 3-pointers in the past three games. In the tiebreak, veteran Gordon Hayward's playoff experience may become the key. The 34-year-old forward experienced a tiebreak battle with the Celtics in 2022. Pacers need to be wary of Thunder rookie Carson Wallace, the defensive vanguard successfully restricted Halliburton to a season-low 12 points in G4.

**4. The ultimate test of the championship puzzle**

SGA's superstar showdown with Halliburton will determine the title. The former has 30+ 8 times this season, but the key shot percentage is only 41.7%; the latter leads the playoffs with 11.2 assists per game, but G6's three turnovers exposed hidden dangers in the last 5 minutes. In the inside, the game between Homegren and Turner will continue to escalate. The former shot a 39% three-point shooting percentage in the series, but rebounding has not double-digit games in three consecutive games. It is worth mentioning that the health status of the two teams is in contrast: the Pacers are all healthy, while Thunder guard Josh Gidey's ankle injury may affect movement speed.

**5. Big Data Prophecy and Expert Opinions**

ESPN's latest championship probability model shows that the Pacers have a slight advantage with 53%, mainly based on their devilish record of 18 consecutive home wins. But basketball analyst Zach Lowe pointed out: "The Thunder has a richer arsenal of critical moments, with SGA, Jaylen Williams and Homgren all able to execute the finale. "The bookmakers opened a handicap of 1.5 points, setting a record for the smallest handicap in tiebreaks in the past decade. Historical data reveals a more cruel reality: the past 12 teams that have reached the finals for the first time have a tiebreaking victory rate of less than 33%.

**6. The ultimate battle of city glory**

No matter what the result is, this will be a tiebreaker that has been recorded in history. Oklahoma City's chance to touch the championship trophy again since 2012, colliding fiercely with Indianapolis' dream of first championship in 47 years since its founding. Thunder General Manager Sam Presti's "Draft Magic" will play against Pacers Kevin Pritchard's "Trading Magic Operation". Two teams that have risen through different team building ideas represent two successful paradigms in the new era of the NBA. As TNT commentator Shaquille O'Neal said: "This is not a competition of talent, but a look at whose heart is bigger."