Soon, the Oklahoma City Thunder will play for the chance to win their first title since the organization was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Indiana Pacers will take place on Thursday, and the Thunder have a 3-2 series lead.
With the Thunder just one victory away from basketball immortality, police and businesses in Oklahoma City are preparing for the possibility that the team clinches the NBA title in the near future. The Thunder will have two chances to win one game and secure the championship, as if they lose on Thursday, Game 7 will be on Sunday.
“Oklahoma City is preparing for possible celebrations as the Thunder get ready to play for the NBA title in Indianapolis,” Alyse Jones reported for KOCO 5 News.
“Both businesses and the Oklahoma City Police Department are preparing for the possibility of the Thunder securing the championship on either Thursday or Sunday. This would be the Thunder’s first championship.”
One member of the Oklahoma City police force expressed excitement about the Thunder’s situation.
“We’re hopeful that our Thunder can bring home the championship,” Master Sgt. Gary Knight with Oklahoma City police said.
There are expected to be many people downtown.
“There will be a lot of people downtown,” Knight said. “I know a lot of folks show up in downtown to watch the game there either at the arena or nearby.”
Knight said the police “understand the gravity of the situation.”
“If the Thunder end up winning that game, it’s going to be a very festive atmosphere,” Knight said. “We’ll have extra officers there. We understand the gravity of the situation.”
OKC police aren’t expecting chaos or crime but are prepared for large crowds and thousands of people celebrating.
“We’re in a position with this where, hopefully, anytime someone is in a position where they need a police officer, there will be one close by,” Knight said. “Hopefully, nobody will need a police officer, but when you get large crowds late at night, sometimes there’s a need for police.”
The Thunder are in the driver’s seat to win the championship series after they picked up a victory in a pivotal Game 5 on Monday. Oklahoma City won by 11 points behind 71 combined points from its star duo of Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Indiana trailed by as few as two points in the final frame.
Historically, teams with a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to take the series in the lion’s share of instances. In NBA playoff history, teams in that position have won their series 84 percent of the time.
Just because the Thunder are in an advantageous spot doesn’t mean they can get comfortable and rest on their laurels, though. Nine squads in NBA Finals history have won the title after being in a 2-3 hole in the championship series, with the most recent example being the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, who were able to mount such a comeback after they once faced a 1-3 hole.
The Thunder should compete in Thursday’s Game 6 as if their season is on the line, as dropping Game 6 would give Indiana some momentum heading into a Game 7 that would decide who wins the championship.
With any luck for OKC, the Thunder will take care of business on Thursday, and their fans will soon be celebrating a championship. A title would be the cherry on top of an incredible season for the Thunder.
