The Indiana Pacers are one win away from their first NBA championship.
A trending topic over the course of the NBA Finals has been the referees, especially following Game 4 which caused Pacers coach Rick Carlisle to publicly defend official Scott Foster.
How Game 7 is called could be a key factor in whether the Thunder or Pacers lift the Larry O’Brien trophy Sunday night. The Thunder are shooting 84.2% from the free-throw line this series, while the Pacers are at 75.8%.
The crew chief for Game 7 is James Capers, with Josh Tiven as referee and Sean Wright as umpire. This is Capers’ 13th NBA Finals, Tiven’s sixth Finals and Wright’s second Finals.
Capers worked Game 3 of these Finals, while Tiven and Wright worked Game 4. Game 4 featured a series-high 53 fouls and 71 free throws (38 for OKC and 33 for Indiana).
Purdue grad James Williams is the alternate and David Guthrie is in the replay center.
Re-live the Pacers incredible postseason run with our commemorative book
Scott Foster, Tony Brothers, Zach Zarba are NOT working Game 7 of NBA Finals
Three of the more criticized referees by fans will not be working Game 7 on Sunday.
What time is Pacers vs Thunder? NBA Finals Game 7 tip-off time
Game 7, Sun., June 22: Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m.
NBA Finals Game 7 Pacers vs Thunder TV channel, announcers
TV: ABC, with Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysis), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporting)
Get IndyStar’s Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who are refs for tonight’s Pacers vs. Thunder Game 7 of NBA Finals?
Reporting by Matthew Glenesk, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
