By every conceivable metric, the odds are stacked heavily against the Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

First, there’s the historical precedent. Only four road teams have ever won Game 7, with home teams going 15-4 in championship deciders.  

Second, the recent trends favor the Thunder, who are 10-2 at home in the postseason and 7-0 after a loss since April 6, winning those games by a whopping margin of 17.3 points. 

It would be a bold move to pick the Pacers to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy at Paycom Center this Sunday. Pistons legend and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is among the few willing to go against the grain.

“I’m going with Indiana in an upset in Game 7,” he told NBA TV. “I just think the confidence they played with, and maybe they shook the confidence of one or two of OKC’s players. And that’s all you need in a seven-game series … Indiana’s players, because they don’t don’t depend on just one guy to get 25 points, they’ve got five or six guys who can get 15, 16, 17. They’re very comfortable in that range.”

Thomas added that the Pacers’ equal-opportunity offense “will travel” in Game 7 when defenses key on certain matchups. 

To Thomas’ point, the Pacers have an incredible eight players averaging double-digit points through six games and four players averaging three or more assists. Furthermore, four of their five starters — Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner — have been net positives on the floor. 

In comparison, the Thunder have only four players averaging double-digit points and just two who record three or more assists. Their heavy reliance on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams appeared to cost them in Game 6, with none of the role players stepping up when the co-stars had an off night.