The OKC Thunder need to bring their A-game for Sunday's winner-takes-all Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
While there are plenty of areas in their game that they should look to improve upon following Thursday's letdown loss out in Indiana, one of the most important approaches to securing a bounce-back performance may be finding a way to breathe life into their non-star contributors.
Though considered to have had the deepest rotation and most elite second unit in the entire league throughout the regular season and the majority of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, through six games in this year's title round, the Pacers have found a way to outshine Oklahoma City in this particular department.
It's because of this that Indiana has managed to make this such a competitive series.
Thunder depth must shine bright in order to win Game 7 of NBA Finals
From an offensive standpoint, Indiana's bench has been far and away the superior group.
Boasting an edge in points per game (41.5 to 30.8), effective field goal percentage (51.9 to 51.3), and offensive rating (52.0 to 49.0), the Pacers' second unit and overall depth are clearly giving the Thunder a taste of their own medicine on the biggest stage of the season.
As a whole, Indiana has eight players logging double-digit point averages, while Oklahoma City has just four.
Though the turnover battle is widely considered the most impactful statistical category to reign supreme in, arguably a close second is the offensive production put forth by each team's supporting cast.
Virtually every one of the Thunder's losses against the Pacers has been due to poor shooting nights from the core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
During their 108-91 Game 6 blowout, the three combined for a mere 41 points on 40.5 percent shooting from the floor while shooting 0-of-8 from deep. Unfortunately for them, their fellow running mates couldn't find a way to help pick up the slack.
In Game 7, Oklahoma City needs their tertiary options to shine bright to help bring them past the finish line as NBA Champions.
This means key long-range weapons like Lu Dort finding ways to shake off a 3-point, 1-of-5 shooting performance from distance and spark plug studs like Aaron Wiggins getting into a groove and finding ample opportunities to put the ball in the basket -- when the 26-year-old has dropped 10 or more points this postseason, the Thunder are undefeated.
While this certainly is vital for padding the team's point totals, their efficiency will also help alleviate the pressures and, frankly, defensive intensity that guys like SGA, J-Dub, and Chet face when shouldering the load on offense.
With the Larry O'Brien Trophy now officially at risk of slipping right through their fingers, in this do-or-die showdown on Sunday night, OKC's depth must find a way to step up and show out.