Indiana Pacers: Revisiting Victor Oladipo willing the Pacers to Game 7

Two years ago, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo posted his first ever playoff triple double in a huge Pacers win over LeBron James and the Cavs.

It’s hard to believe that it’s now been two years since Victor Oliadipo played in a playoff game with the Indiana Pacers.

An injury that cut his 2019 campaign short and this season being suspended for the entire NBA has held him back from showing what he can be in the most important of games.

Two years ago to the date, on April 27th, Victor Oladipo had his biggest playoff game yet against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds

• 2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte Hornets
• Handing out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin
• 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
• 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
• Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?

On their home floor, the Pacers entered Game 6 with a win being an absolute necessity. A loss meant the season was over and the Pacers would have to try again next year.

A win would put them in a Game 7 do or die situation against LeBron and the Cavs. Certainly not the opponent you want to be facing in a rubber match, but it was better than dying on your home floor.

Oladipo had his way and for the first time showed that he had the ever-important playoff gene that all superstars have.

Everything clicked for Oladipo, and he came out absolutely firing in the first quarter.

Oladipo started his scoring by backing down J.R. Smith in the paint and would hit a pull-up 3-pointer in Smith’s face later in the first quarter. He had multiple steals in the first frame, both leading to emphatic dunks on the opposite end that energized the crowd further and gave the Pacers the oomph they needed to continue piling on.

He effortlessly found teammates and had a vision and feel for the game that was unmatched in this contest.

Ultimately, Oladipo went 11-for-19 from the field, making all but two of his eight attempted 3-pointers. He put up 28 points, secured 13 rebounds and dished out 10 assists, tacking on 4 steals as well.

In the advanced category, OIadipo had an offensive rating of 150 and a defensive rating of 83. 

The Pacers held LeBron to 22 points, and no other Cavs player scored more than 13. Indiana would dominate this game 121-87, Oladipo acting as the catalyzing agent.

Just a few years removed from Paul George requesting a trade out of Indiana, this was a feel-good moment for the Pacers and Oladipo. He was capping off an incredible season by proving that he had the ability to be a star in Indy.

This was a huge year for Oladipo. He made his first All-Star game and won Most Improved Player of the Year. It was a prove-it year for him in many ways, and this triple-double showing that helped the Pacers to obliterate the Cavs and force a Game 7 encapsulated all of it.

Unfortunately, Indy would lose in Cleveland in Game 7, but this moment sits as one of the best in recent Pacers history.

This was the last playoff moment we got from Oladipo on the floor of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but if all goes according to plan there will be many, many more.