The ‘margin’ stat that was the biggest key to the Indiana Pacers' saving their season

The Indiana Pacers forced a Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

INDIANAPOLIS — This late in a playoff series, as Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam put it Thursday night, there are no "secrets" left between opponents.

There are very few — if any — surprise adjustments left on the board. The coaches know each other’s plays. The players know one another’s tendencies.

Said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton: “All these games are coming down to the margins.”

And there was one margin in particular that propelled Indiana to a stunning, 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the one that coach Rick Carlisle said cost it Game 5: turnovers.

“We played better,” Carlisle said when he was asked about the giveaways after Game 6. “We were where we should be most of the time. Well, a lot more than we were in Game 5. And we were stronger with the ball, and we had some that weren’t great ones. But when we made a mistake, we bounced back well, and that’s what you’ve got to do this time of year.”