Does the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese kerfuffle cement their rivalry?
Wolves vs. Thunder - who has the most to gain in the West Finals?
Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by David Dennis Jr. to preview the Western Conference Finals and discuss which player could boost his reputation with a strong series to lead his team to the NBA Finals. Hear the full conversation on 'Good Word with Goodwill' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder's Jalen Williams reveals biggest issue in 4th quarter meltdown vs Pacers
The post Thunder's Jalen Williams reveals biggest issue in 4th quarter meltdown vs Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. OKLAHOMA CITY — After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander addressed Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner in the Indiana Pacers' 111-110 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams delivered his take on what went wrong. Advertisement The Thunder coughed up a 15-point lead amid a 12-3 Pacers run in their colossal fourth-quarter collapse. Williams identified Oklahoma City's most significant shortcomings. For Williams, the issues that hindered his team's fourth-quarter performance were reminiscent of when the Thunder surrendered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of losing their series opener against the Denver Nuggets. 'We had a couple of defensive breakdowns that cost us, a couple of offensive rebounds that cost us, just little stuff down the stretch,' Williams said. 'I thought we had a really good offensive process. We got some good shots towards the end. But when shots aren't falling, you can't have defensive breakdowns like we did.' In a final frame where Jalen Williams and the Thunder were outscored 35-25 by the Pacers, the Thunder went 6-for-17, including 0-for-5 from deep in the fourth quarter. Indiana's six threes in the final frame catapulted their comeback. Advertisement After Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander came up empty on back-to-back Thunder possessions, Haliburton, with 11.3 seconds left, dribbled the ball up the floor before finding his spot from inside the three-point arc over Cason Wallace for the go-ahead bucket. Haliburton's game-winner topped his NBA Finals debut performance, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while helping the Pacers steal Game 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander downplays Tyrese Haliburton's 'crazy' shot Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacted to Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot. After Gilgeous-Alexander missed a shot that would have given the Thunder a three-point lead with less than 14 seconds left, Tyrese made him pay. In a game where the Pacers finished with a whopping 25 turnovers, they took care of the ball when it mattered most. Advertisement The Thunder failed to preserve a 15-point lead. After the loss, Gilgeous-Alexander took reporters through the motions of the Pacers' final possession toward the end of the fourth quarter. 'I don't know; it happened so fast,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'He got down going right, pulled up for the middy, and knocked down the shot. I don't know, it didn't feel like anything crazy. He just made a play with time winding down, made a good play.' In his NBA Finals debut, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals but will look to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday. Advertisement Related: 3 adjustments Thunder must make after NBA Finals Game 1 catastrophe vs. Pacers Related: Pacers-Thunder Game 1 hits record low in views for Finals
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder's unexpected Game 2 performer gets ‘huge' praise
The post Thunder's unexpected Game 2 performer gets 'huge' praise appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder have evened the NBA Finals at one game apiece with a dominant 123–107 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 at Paycom Center. Advertisement Just days after their heartbreaking collapse in the series opener, the Thunder came out with intensity and never looked back, delivering a statement win that reignited their title hopes. This time, they executed with poise and avoided the costly late-game errors that doomed them in Game 1, thanks in part to a surprising spark from Aaron Wiggins off the bench. Wiggins emerged as a game-changer, earning widespread praise for his energetic and efficient play. He poured in 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds in just 21 minutes. His timely contributions helped maintain Oklahoma City's momentum and keep Indiana at bay. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault lauded Wiggins' impact during the post-game press conference. 'He was huge tonight. I give him a lot of credit,' (h/t Thunder reporter Michael Martin). 'He's been a huge part of our success this season. In the playoffs, his role has been very night-to-night, but he hangs in there. He was huge in that Game 4 in Denver.' Daigneault continued to emphasize Wiggins' importance, adding, 'He was massive tonight. Went in there with great confidence. Didn't go in until the second quarter and just dove right into the game. Great professionalism. Great readiness. A huge performance for us.' Wiggins' performance was a genuine surprise for the Thunder. Entering Game 2, he was averaging just 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists this postseason, while shooting 40.0% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc. Advertisement MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again led the charge, cementing his superstar status with a 34-point performance. It marked his second straight 30-point outing in the Finals after scoring 38 in the opener. While his brilliance set the tone, it was Wiggins' spark that gave the Thunder a new edge. With the series now tied and the Thunder finding their rhythm, the spotlight isn't just on Gilgeous-Alexander. Aaron Wiggins' breakout showing has given Oklahoma City a fresh spark heading into Game 3. Can the Thunder carry this momentum on the road, and will Wiggins continue to be the unexpected X-factor in the Finals? Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 'best fans' revelation that fuel Game 2 win Related: Thunder HC Mark Daigneault drops truth bomb on 'acquired taste' of playing Pacers
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's honest reaction to NBA Finals record
The post Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's honest reaction to NBA Finals record appeared first on ClutchPoints. Thanks in large part to another monster scoring effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder have evened up the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers courtesy of a 123-107 win in Game 2 on Sunday night. Gilgeous-Alexander put up 34 points, five rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 11-21 from the field and 11-12 from the charity stripe. Advertisement In so doing, Gilgeous-Alexander became the player to score the most points through the first two games of one's NBA Finals career, dropping 72 during that span after he scored 38 in their Game 1 loss. But Gilgeous-Alexander's mind is not too fixated on setting scoring records. He and the Thunder are in the NBA Finals for one reason and one reason only — to win a championship. And if he had a choice, he would much rather be up 2-0 over the Pacers, although he made it clear that he's not crying over spilled milk. 'I'm being myself. I don't think I'm trying to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just trying to attack the game the right way. I think I'm doing a pretty good job of that thus far. I would trade the points for 2 Ws for sure. This is where we are [however]. Can't go back in the past, you know, you try to make the future better,' Gilgeous-Alexander said in his postgame presser, via Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire. Gilgeous-Alexander was the MVP of this past season for a reason, and it's because of his relentless pursuit of his ultimate goal — winning a championship. He is certainly doing his part, playing his game to perfection even if he's become a lightning rod for criticism for his foul-drawing tendencies. Advertisement Regardless, the momentum is now on the Thunder's side heading into Game 3, and it's looking like the Pacers don't have any answers for the 2025 NBA MVP. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder even up the series Kyle Terada-Imagn Images It would not have been the end of the world had the Thunder lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but it would have put so much pressure on them to win Game 3 down 2-0 heading on the road. But Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder managed to shake off whatever emotional damage the Pacers' Game 1 win was able to inflict on their psyche to even up the series at 1-1. With the Pacers being at their most vulnerable in Game 3, expect the Thunder to bring the same ferocity they did in Game 2 on Wednesday night. Advertisement Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shouts out Aaron Wiggins' 'impressive' Game 2 performance Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 'best fans' revelation that fueled Game 2 win
