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Posts published in “NBA”

Trail Blazers defeats Spurs to even Series (106 – 103)

April 22, 2026

The Portland Trail Blazers closed the game on a 16–4 run over the final five minutes to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 106–103 and even the series at 1–1.

9 Lead Changes | Tied 9x

Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson – 31 PTS (11-17 FG) | 5 3PM
Jrue Holiday – 16 PTS (6-17 FG) | 5 REB | 9 AST
FG: 38-89 (42.7%) | 3P: 13-38 (34.2%)
REB: 43 | AST: 18 | STL: 8 | BLK: 10

Spurs
Stephon Castle – 18 PTS (7-20 FG) | 8 REB | 5 AST
De’Aaron Fox – 17 PTS (6-16 FG) | 4 AST | 3 STL
FG: 38-86 (44.2%) | 3P: 7-24 (29.2%)
REB: 45 | AST: 19 | STL: 13 | BLK: 5

Trail Blazers – Bench: 26 | Paint: 40 | 2ndPTS: 23 | PTSTO: 24
Spurs

Real talk! The Blazers would not have won if Wemby hadn’t fallen to the ground and exited with a concussion. Even without Wemby, the Spurs still managed to build a 14-point lead (93–79) with eight and a half minutes left in the game; however, Portland went on a 27–10 run to close the game with a win.

Here’s a clip of that nasty Victor Wembanyama fall resulting in a concussion.

Game 3 of the first-round playoffs will now shift to Portland. We’ll see how San Antonio adjusts their game, especially if Victor Wembanyama is on limited playing time.

Lakers takes 2 – 0 over Rockets lead by James, Smart and Kennard (101 – 94)

April 22, 2026

Another dominant performance from LeBron James, as the Lakers secured a 101–94 victory over the Rockets in Game 2, extending their series lead to 2-0. Once again James flirted with a triple-double, racking up 28 points, 8rebounds, and 7 assists. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard added 25 points and 23 points, respectively. Smart and Kennard also made a 8 of the 13 three-pointers of Lakers.

In the second quarter, Houston attempted a comeback fueled by Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr., but their efforts were undermined by self-inflicted wounds. Kevin Durant struggled with a game-high nine turnovers, and their half-court execution was generally sloppy, preventing the Rockets from closing the gap in the final minutes.

The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic (strained hamstring) and Austin Reaves (strained oblique); this latest win will allow them to get more rest. The series now shifts to Houston for Game 3 this Friday, where the Rockets will face a must-win scenario to avoid a 0-3 deficit.

Game Highlights;

Wolves erases Nuggets’ 19-point lead to even the series (119 – 114)

April 21, 2026

ESPN;

DENVER — — A big early deficit in Denver didn’t bother the Minnesota Timberwolves, who two years ago staged the biggest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, clawing out of a 20-point hole to beat the Nuggets and advance to the Western Conference finals.

This time, they overcame a 19-point deficit, rallying past the Nuggets 119-114 on Monday night behind 30 points from Anthony Edwards and 24 from Julius Randle to tie their first-round playoff series at one game each.

An epic comeback from the Minnesota Timberwolves and an epic choke job by the Nuggets!

Final 5:50 of Game 2 Timberwolves vs #3 Nuggets

Victor Wembanyama Wins the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year

April 21, 2026

Wemby is basically blocking and rebounding the ball at the sametime! 😀

Update: As per Michael C. Wright, reporting for ESPN;

SAN ANTONIO — Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday night, becoming the first to win the award unanimously and setting the 7-foot-4 phenom on a path he predicted for himself as a rookie.

Wembanyama is also a finalist for 2026 NBA MVP.

NBA: Michael Jordan’s 63-PT Playoff Game

April 21, 2026

On this day in NBA history, Michael Jordan delivered one of the greatest scoring performances the game has ever seen.

In Game 2 of the 1986 First Round, a 23-year-old Jordan exploded for a playoff-record 63 points against the Boston Celtics, pushing the eventual NBA champions to double overtime. He finished with 22 made field goals and 21 free throw attempts, as two Celtics fouled out trying to contain him.

Despite the Chicago Bulls falling 135-131, the performance became instantly legendary.

After the game, Larry Bird said it best:
“I think he’s God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

Spurs defeats Trail Blazers as Wembanyama Makes History in Playoff Debut (111 – 98)

April 20, 2026

The San Antonio Spurs officially ended their six-season postseason drought with a commanding 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round Playoffs.

Victor Wembanyama stole the show in his playoff debut, exploding for 35 points, breaking Tim Duncan’s franchise record for a postseason opener. Supported by Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, who added 17 points each, with 7 and 8 assists, respectively. The Spurs led throughout at a raucous Frost Bank Center. Despite a valiant 30-point effort from Portland’s Deni Avdija, the Blazers struggled to contain San Antonio’s length and defensive efficiency. The Spurs now hold a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2.

Game highlights;

Kennard scores 27, LeBron leads Lakers to surprising 107-98 win over Rockets in playoff opener  

April 19, 2026

ESPN;

LOS ANGELES — — Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant’s injury absence for a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the opener of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night.

Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers, who pulled off an impressive win without their top two scorers.

The absence of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, have little to no affect at all with the Lakers, while the Rockets really needed KD in this game. Plus, Lebron James was vintage and was 2 rebounds aways for a triple-double.

Game 2 of the Lakers-Rockets series will be Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Game Highlights;

Luke Kennard

Lebron James

Suns oust Warriors in the Final Game of the Play-In (111–96)

April 18, 2026

The Phoenix Suns secured the final playoff spot in the Western Conference on Friday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 111–96 in a winner-take-all play-in tournament finale. Led by a stellar performance from Jalen Green, who exploded for 36 points and eight three-pointers, the Suns clinched the No. 8 seed and a first-round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Phoenix dominated early, jumping to an 18-point lead in the first quarter. While the Warriors clawed back to within five points by halftime, the Suns’ defense proved too much. Stephen Curry was held to just 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting as the Suns’ backcourt harassed him all night. Devin Booker contributed 20 points before being ejected late in the fourth quarter following a heated exchange with Draymond Green.

The loss ends Warriors’ season, while the Suns head into the postseason and will face the OKC Thunder in the 1st round of the Playoffs.

Final 5-Mins of Golden State Warriors versus Los Angeles Clipper Play-in Game

April 16, 2026

Golden State caught fire collectively, shooting 15‑of‑20 from the field (75%) and 8‑of‑11 from three (72.7%) in the final frame, with Draymond Green sealing the win by coming up with two clutch steals down the stretch. After defeating the Clippers 126–121, the Warriors now head to Phoenix to face the Suns for the 8th seed and the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

That was a wild game and a defensive clinic by the Warriors.

Warriors will face the Suns this Friday, for the 8th spot of the NBA Playoff and will play the defending champs OKC Thunder in the 1st round.

Warriors move past Clippers lead by Horford, Curry and Green (126-121)

April 16, 2026

The Golden State Warriors completed a stunning 126–121 comeback victory over the LA Clippers in Wednesday’s high-stakes play-in tournament. Trailing by 13 in the fourth quarter, the Warriors ignited a 16–6 closing run and held Kawhi Leonard scoreless until the final 16 seconds of the game.

Steph Curry was sensational, scoring 35 points on 7-of-12 shooting from deep, becoming the oldest point guard in NBA history to record a 35-point game. While Curry provided the spark, Draymond Green anchored the defense with 3 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals—two of which came in the final frame. Green spearheaded a physical team effort that neutralized Leonard for nearly the entire quarter. Al Horford added 14 points, including three consecutive clutch triples down the stretch. This win keeps Golden State’s season alive; they now travel to Phoenix for a do-or-die matchup against the Suns for the 8th seed and face the defending champion Oklahoma City in the first round.

Game highlights;

Extended Version of Michael Jordan Interview with Gayle King

April 6, 2026

23XI Racing co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, along with team driver Tyler Reddick, speak with Gayle King about the hot start to their season, the current state of NASCAR and more.

The first clip that they release is only 8 mins, this extended version is 33-mins in length.

Nuggets defeat Spurs 136-134 powered by Jokic’s 40-points Double-Double

April 5, 2026

In a high-stakes game with playoff-level intensity, the Denver Nuggets edged the San Antonio Spurs 136–134 in an overtime thriller on Saturday night. The game served as a masterclass from the NBA’s top two MVP candidates, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, who traded blows in OT.

Jokić was nearly flawless, exploding for 40 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds. Most impressively, he became the first center in NBA history to record a 40-point, 10-assist game without committing a single turnover. His late-game brilliance fueled a Nuggets comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit (107 – 96) with 9-mins remaining in regulation.

Wembanyama, returning from a one-game absence, was equally transcendent. The young star put up 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks, anchoring a Spurs defense that held the lead for most of the regulation. Despite his dominant interior presence, Wembanyama’s potential game-winner at the buzzer clanged off the rim, leading to a Denver-controlled overtime. The victory snapped the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak and kept Denver within half a game of the Western Conference’s third seed.

Here’s the last 18-second of the 4ht Qtr and OT.

Game highlights;

Spurs routs Warriors, for 10th straight win (127-113)

April 2, 2026

The San Antonio Spurs continued their late-season surge on Wednesday, defeating a short-handed Golden State Warriors squad 127–113. Led by Victor Wembanyama’s dominant 41 points and 18 rebounds, the Spurs secured their 10th consecutive victory.

The win bolsters San Antonio’s pursuit of the Western Conference’s top seed. Sitting at 58–18, they remain just two games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Conversely, the Warriors (36–40) are in survival mode. Currently holding the 10th seed, they occupy the final Play-In spot with a potential showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers. Without their primary scoring threats, Golden State struggled to match San Antonio’s efficiency, which saw seven players score in double figures.

Reports suggest Stephen Curry is on track to return from his knee injury before the regular season ends on April 12. Curry has resumed full-squad scrimmaging and on-court drills. His return is critical for a Warriors team likely facing a “win-or-go-home” Play-In scenario, providing the veteran leadership and firepower needed to spark a deep postseason run.

Highlights;

NBA owners vote to explore Vegas, Seattle expansion bids  

March 26, 2026

Shams Charania, writing for ESPN;

The NBA’s board of governors has approved a vote for the league to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle.

All 30 owners voted in favor of exploring Las Vegas and Seattle expansion, sources told ESPN. A bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team, according to sources.

I’m all for expanding the NBA and bringing back the Seattle SuperSonics. As for Vegas, if approved, what would be the name of the Las Vegas Team? If the WNBA team is called the Aces, then can we call the NBA team as the Las Vegas Royals?

Warriors lost to Lakers lead by Lebron James (105 – 99)

February 8, 2026

The LA Lakers just gave the Warriors their 4th lost in 6 games. Lebron James lead the Lakers with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, followed by Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, who added 18 points and 16 points, respectively. This will be Lakers 3rd straight win

The Warriors was without their leading scorer Steph Curry who was sidelined with a “right knee issue,” while the Lakers are without Deandre Ayton (knee) and Luka Doncic (mild hamstring strain).

LA will host the OKC while the Warriors be at the Bay against the Memphis Grizzlies, both games will be this Tuesday evening.

Timberwolves avenge their loss by beating the Warriors with a 25-point win (108 – 83)

January 27, 2026

In a depleted-roster clash, the Minnesota Timberwolves crushed the Golden State Warriors 108-83 on Monday night. Snapping a five-game losing streak, Minnesota capitalized on the absence of Warriors stars Stephen Curry (knee) and Draymond Green (back), while the Wolves are without their superstar Anthony Edwards to rest an recurring right foot injury.

Julius Randle lead Minnesota a team-high 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert anchored the win with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Golden State struggled offensively, shooting a season-low 23% (9-of-39) from beyond the arc, with Quinten Post leading them with 13 points.

The Golden State will visit Utah, while Timberwolves will face the Mavericks in Dallas, both games will be this Wednesday evening.

Warriors defeats Timberwolves and Curry move pass Havlicek for No. 20 in All-time Scoring (111 – 85)

January 26, 2026

The Golden State Warriors cruised to a 111-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, headlined by Stephen Curry making history. With 26 points and 7 assists, Curry officially passed John Havlicek for No. 20 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, also moving into a tie with Paul Pierce for 19th with 2,6397 points.

Despite battling knee soreness, Curry led a defensive masterclass featuring a season-high 20 team steals. Moses Moody added 19 points as the Warriors broke the game open with a 38-17 third-quarter surge. While Anthony Edwards scored 32 for Minnesota, the Timberwolves dropped their fifth straight in a somber Minneapolis atmosphere.

Watch all Steph Curry’s high lights of the game here;

Watch the Official Trailer of ALLEN IV3RSON

October 10, 2025

The truth behind the Answer. ALLEN IV3RSON premieres October 23 on Prime Video.

Allen Iverson is one of the “One of the most influential” and probably second only to MJ in terms of his cultural impact in both on and off the court.

Luka Dončić signs three-year $165 Million extension with the Lakers

August 3, 2025

Great news for Laker fans, Luka Dončić has signed the three-year $165 Million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. The extension includes a player option in the final year that will keep the Dončić in L.A. until 2028.

NBA;

“I’m really grateful to the Lakers organization, my teammates and the fans for welcoming me and my family with so much support and kindness since day one,” said Dončić. “This is an amazing organization, and I truly believe in what we’re building together. I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to bring another championship to Los Angeles and to make Laker Nation proud. This is just the beginning. I’m excited for what’s ahead and to keep building something special with this team.”

Here’s the 14-min press conference with Luka Dončić and Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Aside from locking Luka Dončić and Lebron James staying with the Lakers for one more year after exercising his $52.6 million player option, Lakers will be the favorite to win this coming season as long as they sign the right role player to complement Luka and Lebron.

Official: Kevin Durant Part of NBA’s First 7-Team Deal

July 8, 2025

It looks like that the “Kevin Durant trade to Houston Rockets” was just the start, now there’s a new report that KD is now part of the NBA’s first 7-Team Trade.

The NBA stated, “The largest trade in NBA history finally came together on Sunday, with centerpiece Kevin Durant joining the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and a slew of other assets with no fewer than seven teams and 13 players involved.”

Here’s the trade in a nutshell;

Rockets get:

  • Kevin Durant
  • Clint Capela

Suns get:

  • Jalen Green
  • Dillon Brooks
  • Khaman Maluach (No. 10 overall)
  • Rasheer Fleming (No. 31 overall)
  • Koby Brea (No. 41 overall)
  • Daeqwon Plowden
  • 2026 second-round pick
  • 2032 second-round pick

Nets get:

  • 2026 second-round pick
  • 2030 second-round pick

Warriors get:

  • Alex Toohey (No. 52 overall)
  • Jahmai Mashack (No. 59 overall)

Hawks get:

  • David Roddy
  • 2031 second-round pick
  • Cash

Lakers get:

  • Adou Thiero (No. 36 overall)
  • Cash

Timberwolves get:

  • Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 overall)
  • 2026 second-round pick
  • 2032 second-round pick
  • Cash

It’s unclear what this means to all the teams involved and how it will shaped their future but one this is for sure, the Rockets will be scary this coming season with KD and Alperen Şengün, with the rest of the team.

NBA Free Agency: Deandre Ayton to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers

July 3, 2025

After being bought out by Portland Trailblazers, Center Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign the LA Lakers, this will give the Lakers the size that they need at the center position.

Here’s the list of Round 2 of the 2025 NBA Draft

June 28, 2025

I’m just gonna place this here, since there’s not much buzz for the second day/round of the 2025 NBA Draft, this of course for some unexpected trades like Phoenix wanting to get the 31st pick from Minnesota Timberwolves, which they use to pick Rasheer Fleming, a 6’8″ forward with a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan.

Second Round
31. Timberwolves draft Rasheer Fleming (St. Joseph’s) – Traded to Suns
32. Celtics draft Noah Penda (Le Mans Sarthe Basket) – Traded to Magic
33. Hornets draft Sion James (Duke)
34. Hornets draft Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
35. 76ers draft Johni Broome (Auburn)
36. Nets draft Adou Thiero (Arkansas) – Traded to Lakers (via Suns & Wolves)
37. Pistons draft Chaz Lanier (Tennessee)
38. Spurs draft Kam Jones (Marquette) – Traded to Pacers
39. Raptors draft Alijah Martin (Florida)
40. Wizards draft Micah Peavy (Georgetown) – Traded to Pelicans
41. Warriors draft Koby Brea (Kentucky) – Traded to Suns
42. Kings draft Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)
43. Wizards draft Jamir Watkins (Florida State)
44. Thunder draft Brooks Barnhizer (Northwestern)
45. Bulls draft Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane) – Traded to Wolves (via Lakers)
46. Magic draft Amari Williams (Kentucky) – Traded to Celtics
47. Bucks draft Bogoljub Marković (Mega Basket)
48. Grizzlies draft Javon Small (West Virginia)
49. Cavaliers draft Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
50. Knicks draft Kobe Sanders (Nevada) – Traded to Clippers
51. Clippers draft Mohamed Diawara (Cholet Basket) – Traded to Knicks
52. Suns draft Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) – Traded to Warriors
53. Jazz draft John Tonje (Wisconsin)
54. Pacers draft Taelon Peter (Liberty)
55. Lakers draft Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks) – Traded to Bulls
56. Grizzlies draft Will Richard (Florida) – Traded to Warriors
57. Magic draft Max Shulga (VCU) – Traded to Celtics
58. Cavaliers draft Saliou Niang (Trento)
59. Rockets draft Jahmai Mashack (Tennessee) – Traded to Grizzlies (via Warriors & Suns)
* The 2025 second round pick for the Knicks was rescinded by the NBA.

You can check the full list of the Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft here.

Now that the 2025 NBA Draft is in the books, we can checkout the Rookies and the Sophomores in action in this year’s NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 in Las Vegas this July 10th.

Full list of the Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg selected by Dallas at No. 1

June 26, 2025

NBA just concluded the 1st Round (day 1) of its annual draft. As expected, the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke’s Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, he is the second youngest no. 1 pick, second only to Lebron James.

ESPN writes, “The 6-foot-8, 221-pound Flagg, who will not turn 19 until Dec. 21, arrived at Duke with immense expectations and lived up to the hype. He was a consensus All-American and won multiple national player of the year honors, including the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award, averaging 19.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals while leading the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance.”

Here’s the full list of Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft;
First Round
1. Mavericks draft Cooper Flagg (Duke)
2. Spurs draft Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
3. 76ers draft VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
4. Hornets draft Kon Knueppel (Duke)
5. Jazz draft Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
6. Wizards draft Tre Johnson (Texas)
7. Pelicans draft Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
8. Nets draft Egor Demin (BYU)
9. Raptors draft Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
10. Rockets draft Khaman Maluach (Duke) – Traded to Suns
11. Trail Blazers draft Cedric Coward (Washington State) – Traded to Grizzlies
12. Bulls draft Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
13. Hawks draft Derik Queen (Maryland) – Traded to Pelicans
14. Spurs draft Carter Bryant (Arizona)
15. Thunder draft Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
16. Grizzlies draft Yang Hansen (Qingdao) – Traded to Trail Blazers
17. Timberwolves draft Joan Beringer (Cedevita Olimpija)
18. Wizards draft Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) – Traded to Jazz
19. Nets draft Nolan Traoré (Saint-Quentin BB)
20. Heat draft Kasparas Jakučionis (Illinois)
21. Jazz draft Will Riley (Illinois) – Traded to Wizards
22. Hawks draft Drake Powell (North Carolina) – Traded to Nets
23. Pelicans draft Asa Newell (Georgia) – Traded to Hawks
24. Thunder draft Nique Clifford (Colorado State) – Traded to Kings
25. Magic draft Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
26. Nets draft Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
27. Nets draft Danny Wolf (Michigan)
28. Celtics draft Hugo González (Real Madrid)
29. Suns draft Liam McNeeley (Connecticut) – Traded to Hornets
30. Clippers draft Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State)

Round 2 will be this Thursday, June 26 (8 ET) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Oklahoma City Thunder are the 2025 NBA Champions

June 24, 2025

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated an undermanned Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. Pacers are without their star Tyrese Haliburton who suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the opening quarter of Game 7.

Even though the Pacers kept the game close in the first three quarters, it was apparent that the absence of Haliburton affected the team. In the final period of the game the Pacers were unable to score for four and a half minutes, by the time they made their first basket, OKC was already enjoying a 20-point lead with 7:29 remaining in the game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the team with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists, he’s also took home the Bill Russell trophy for winning the Finals MVP. Aside from winning both the Regular Season and Finals MVP awards, Shai is also this year’s Scoring Champion with 32.7 ppg. Before this season, the feat of winning the Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring title in one season had only been achieved by four players in NBA history: Jordan (four times), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

Shai got a lot of help from Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren who scored 20 points and 18 points, respectively. Five OKC players scored double digits points the includes Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace who scored 10 points, apiece.

Breaking: Kevin Durant traded to Houston Rockets

June 23, 2025

NBA Superstar Kevin Durant has been traded to the Houston Rockets. The blockbuster trade will send guard Jalen Green, guard-forward Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 Draft and five future second-round picks to Phoenix.

Rockets get:

  • Kevin Durant

Suns get:

  • Jalen Green
  • Dillon Brooks
  • 2025 first-round pick (No. 10)
  • Five future second-round picks

Source: NBA

Pacers Blow Out Thunder to Force winner takes all Game 7

June 20, 2025

The Indiana Pacers routed the OKC Thunder to force a Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers had a slow start, being down 2–10, but then went on a 26–15 run to close the 1st quarter with a 28–25 lead. In the second quarter, the Pacers tightened their defense by limiting the Thunder to just 17 points while scoring 36. The quarter was punctuated by a Haliburton steal and a no-look pass to Siakam, who posterized Jalen Williams with a jam.

It was a total team effort for the Pacers, with six players scoring in double figures. Tyrese Haliburton, who was playing with a strained calf aggravated in Game 5, had 14 points and 5 assists. Obi Toppin scored a team-high 20 points, with 4-of-7 from the 3-point line off the bench. Despite having the tough assignment of guarding league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he was able to score 17 points and 4 assists. Pascal Siakam added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The second half was no different from the first. The Pacers again limited OKC to just 18 points in the 3rd period while building a 30-point lead entering the 4th quarter. By the start of the 4th, OKC Head Coach Mark Daigneault took out most of his starting lineup. Even though they managed to score 31 points in the final period and limited the Pacers to just 18 points, the lead was too much for OKC to overcome.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with a modest 21 points, followed by Jalen Williams with 16 points, after scoring 40 points in Game 5.

Game Highlights

This will be the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016, and it will be in Oklahoma City this Sunday. History will be on OKC’s side, as home teams are 15-4 in Finals Game 7s, but the last team to win a Game 7 was the visiting team.

Oklahoma City Thunder win Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals (120 – 109)

June 17, 2025

The OKC Thunder are one win away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, as they easily defeated an undermanned Indiana Pacers (120-109). OKC built a comfortable 18-point lead in the first half (56-38), but the Pacers slowly chipped away at the lead to trail by just two points (95-93) with 8:30 left in the game. However, the Pacers were not able to take the lead, as the Thunder went on a 25-16 run.

Jalen Williams scored a career playoff-high 40 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists. OKC also got a lot of help from their bench players, with Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace adding 14 points and 11 points, respectively.

Tyrese Haliburton, who was playing with an ankle injury that he aggravated in the first quarter, was limited throughout the game. He failed to make a single field goal the whole game, with all of his 4 points coming from the free-throw line. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while T.J. McConnell added 18 points and Aaron Nesmith had 14.

Game 6 will be in Indiana, and the Pacers will have one more chance to extend this to Game 7 and prevent OKC from celebrating on their home court.

Pacers takes Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals to take 2 – 1 lead (116 – 107)

June 13, 2025

The Pacers are two games away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien in Indiana. They defeated the OKC Thunder with big contributions from the bench players, particularly Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell.

Mathurin led the Pacers with 27 points, followed by Tyrese Haliburton, who was one rebound away from a triple-double with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. Pascal Siakam added 21 points and 6 rebounds. But it was McConnell’s presence on the defensive end that made the difference; he scored 10 points and added 5 steals, an NBA Finals record.

It was a very close game, where the biggest lead by either team was just 9 points. But in the 4th quarter, the Indiana Pacers tightened their defense and limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 3 field goal attempts and OKC as a team to just 18 points against the 32 points by the Pacers.

Except for Cason Wallace, every OKC starter had double-digit points, led by Jalen Williams with 26 points and 6 rebounds, while the league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 10 rebounds. But that same OKC team was limited by the Pacers’ defense to just 7 points in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Game 4 will still be at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana, where OKC will try to even the series and prevent the Pacers from going up 3-1 in the NBA Finals.

New York Knicks Partways with Head Coach Tom Thibodeau

June 4, 2025

After concluding their best and deepest playoff run, the NY Knick fired their head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. Their reasoning for this decision?

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” said Knicks President Leon Rose. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

In an article on ESPN, Coach Tom Thibodeau has “a .579 career winning percentage, the highest by any coach without a Finals appearance in NBA history (minimum 300 games coached).”