The Indiana Pacers flipped the script on Thursday night, crushing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and with that, the Pacers also took rapper Drake’s $800,000 bet down with them. The Thunder, poised to clinch their first title since 1979, instead delivered a lackluster performance, falling 108-91 in Indianapolis. The loss forced a decisive Game 7 back in Oklahoma. The game also became the latest example of the infamous “Drake Curse” playing out in real time.
Drake has lost a whopping $800k after the Oklahoma City Thunder crumbled in Game 6
Drake, a longtime sports bettor and global music icon, revealed via Instagram before tip-off that he had placed two massive bets totaling $800,000 through Stake, the crypto-betting platform he endorses. He wagered $600,000 on the Thunder to win outright and another $200,000 on them to win by a margin of 6–10 points.
Drake would have walked away with $1.734 million if both bets landed on his favor. He even tagged Canadian-born Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his post, writing, “Check that box @shai.”
But instead of a celebratory night, it was another episode of his public gambling failure. Despite questions about Tyrese Haliburton’s health before the game, the Pacers came out stronger in the most crucial matchup. They led by 22 at halftime and pushed the lead to as much as 31 points, leaving OKC scrambling. The Thunder eventually pulled their starters in the fourth quarter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, struggled mightily. He committed a career-worst eight turnovers and scored only 21 points on 15 attempts—well below his playoff average.
Meanwhile, Indiana got major contributions across the board. Obi Toppin led with 20 points, and Pascal Siakam maintained the hype in the crowd with a thunderous poster dunk on Jalen Williams, initiated by a Tyrese Haliburton steal and assist. The team’s depth and defense neutralized OKC’s star power, including Drake’s hopes.
Just hours before Game 6, Drake shared screenshots showing his recent gambling record, an astonishing $124.5 million in bets placed over the last month, with $8.2 million in losses. “Gotta share the other side of gambling ... Losses are so fried right now,” he posted on Instagram. In a more controversial follow-up, Drake called gambling addiction “a lie made up by platforms like Stake to prevent you from winning their money.”
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Tyrese Haliburton quit social media after Game 1 and helped the Indiana Pacers reach Game 7As the Pacers and Thunder prepare for a winner-take-all Game 7, all eyes are on Shai and Haliburton, not to mention whether Drake will double down or finally fold. Either way, his high-stakes habits remain as headline-worthy as the Finals themselves.
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