Pacers Insider: Chris Denari's Pre-Game 7 Analysis

Game 7 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight from Oklahoma City at 8 p.m., and fans in Indy will be watching with bated breath as thousands attend the watch party inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Pacers play-by-play announcer Chris Denari joined us Sunday morning to share his thoughts leading up to Game 7.

“You know, to see how the city has embraced this team. We know what they think about the franchise. I mean, the Pacers are historic in Indianapolis and Indiana, but to do it in 2025 after a 25-year absence, it’s brought people together and I think that’s the cool thing,” Denari said.

Game 7 is winner takes all, and Denari says these are some of the keys to taking home the franchise's first NBA title: “I’d like to see a fast start. You know, these are two very good defense teams. They played against each other for six games, but to do what you do and try to have a repeat performance of what we saw in Game 6. I know it’ll be tough because you’re at OKC, but I really have faith in this team. And I hearken back to last year, Game 7, Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Pacers got a big win to go to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think they can do that again.”

Denari says this is the biggest game in franchise history in the NBA era for the Pacers. As for what it would mean for the Hoosiers, Denari says it would mean everything:

“It’s been 50-plus years since the Pacers won an ABA title. And three titles that they won in ’70, ’72, ’73, they won them all on the road. So the Pacers have a chance to do what they did 50-some years ago: win a title on the road. This would mean everything, I think, to this franchise, to this city, to this state.”