Rick Carlisle labelled Sunday's championship-deciding clash between his Indiana Pacers team and the Oklahoma City Thunder as "the ultimate game".

The NBA Finals have gone all the way to Game 7, meaning it is now an all-or-nothing encounter.

This is the first time a Finals series has gone the distance since 2016.

"Some great things happened for us, and our team made some great things happen," said Carlisle, whose team rallied from 3-2 down to tie the series at 3-3 in Game 6.

"Same thing with Oklahoma City to get to this point.

"It’s one game now. It's the ultimate game."

For Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, the pressure is a privilege.

He said: "It's a privilege to play in Game 7s. It's a privilege to play in the Finals."

The Pacers dominated the Thunder in Game 6, tying the series at 3 and forcing the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016. pic.twitter.com/vcAaA5G0UI

— Opta Analyst US (@OptaAnalystUS) June 20, 2025

The Thunder have only won the championship once, back when the franchise was the Seattle Supersonics in 1979.

Indiana, though, have never won the title.

"Every team would take this opportunity to have this chance,” said the Thunder's Chet Holmgren.

"We're no different. It's on us to go out there and make the most of it."