LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets - April 29, 2025
Bogdanovic contributed seven points (3-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists over 19 minutes during Saturday's 101-99 loss to Denver in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thunder vs. Pacers updated odds: Oklahoma City now a big favorite to win NBA Finals after winning Game 2
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after dispatching the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. They will face the Indiana Pacers, who knocked off the New York Knicks in six games on Saturday night, and the Thunder are overwhelming favorites in the series. In fact, Oklahoma City is the biggest Finals favorite in franchise history. The Thunder opened as -800 favorites in the NBA Finals at BetMGM, with the Pacers as +550 underdogs. Advertisement Oklahoma City was a -175 favorite back in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, but ended up losing the series in five games. The Seattle SuperSonics were -140 favorites in the 1978 NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets, per Sports Odds History. The biggest favorites in NBA Finals history were the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, who were -2000 against the Philadelphia 76ers and won the series in five games. The 2018 champion Golden State Warriors were the second biggest of all time as -1075 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Who were the biggest favorites to lose in the Finals? Well, that again would be the Lakers, who fell as -700 favorites to the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Oklahoma City has arguably been the best team in the league all season, going 68-14 in the tough Western Conference to earn the No. 1 seed, which included a historic 55-23-4 record against the spread in the regular season — the best ATS mark in 35 seasons. Advertisement While the Thunder have struggled against the spread in the postseason entering the finals (7-9 ATS), they have been impressive and won games when it has mattered most — winning Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals and hitting clutch shot after clutch shot in Game 4 against the Timberwolves in the last round. The Pacers are in the NBA Finals for only the second time in franchise history (in 2000 they lost to the -800 favorite Los Angeles Lakers in six games) and have been impressive in the postseason, winning seven games outright as underdogs. Indiana was a -190 favorite at sportsbooks in its Round 1 series against a banged-up Milwaukee Bucks team, before being underdogs (+425 series price) against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks (+135) in the last two rounds. Advertisement We'll be tracking the changing finals odds throughout the series: Indiana Pacers (+400) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (-525) Series tied 1-1 Game 3: Thunder (-5.5, 228.5) at Pacers Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 Spread result: Thunder -11.5 Total: Over 228.5 Series price heading into Game 2: Pacers (+275) vs. Thunder (-350) Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 Spread result: Pacers +10 Total: Under 230 Series price heading into Game 1: Pacers (+500) vs. Thunder (-700)
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Gary Payton Questions Luka Doncic's Willingness To Become A Defensive Player
Gary Payton Questions Luka Doncic's Willingness To Become A Defensive Player originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Hall of Famer and 1996 Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton has weighed in on the lingering question that continues to follow Luka Doncic: Will he ever become a competent defender? Advertisement During a candid conversation at the BUDX NBA House event in Mumbai, Payton, renowned for his elite perimeter defense and relentless tenacity, didn't mince words. He didn't question Doncic's talent, he questioned his will. "Like I said, basketball is different than when I played because I could put my hands on them and I could hand check. We'll talk about Luka. You have to be dedicated to play defense. You have to be dedicated. Maybe that's not for him." "He's a scorer. He can do it. Now, if he gets his mind to it, I tell every kid that I go and do camps with, I say there's a mindset to play defense. Not just say you want to play defense. You can't do that unless you have a mindset to do that." "You have to have great hands and feet to do that. You have to be able to move. You have to be willing to take sacrifices to do things. And that's just the way it goes. I don't think Luka is a defensive player. I think he's a scorer. He's not one of that. But now, if he wants to, yes, he can get his mind to it to do it. But does he want to do it?" Advertisement "That's left up to him. That's not left up to us. He's an athlete. He's got great ability. Now, if he wants to go and change it and prove people wrong that he can't play defense, if that was me, I would change it." "I would say, yeah, I'm going to go out there and I'm going to try to defend somebody. And I'm going to get in shape. I'm going to do the things that I need to do. And I'm going to do that." This statement cuts to the heart of one of the biggest critiques of Luka Doncic. Offensively, there's no doubt he's a generational savant, a wizard with the ball, capable of scoring and facilitating at historic levels. But defensively, he's often compared to a traffic cone. In the 2025 Western Conference first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic was repeatedly exposed in one-on-one matchups. Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley blew past him with ease, and clips of Luka conceding straight-line drives went viral. Advertisement Paul Pierce openly criticized Doncic on national television after the series, declaring that he has to learn how to play defense. Kendrick Perkins was even more direct, calling Doncic 'the worst defensive star in modern basketball.' And those criticisms had real-world consequences, they played a role in the Dallas Mavericks' shocking trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Mavs GM Nico Harrison defended the move by saying, 'Defense wins championships,' subtly implying that Doncic's limitations on that end were incompatible with their championship goals. Harrison believed Davis, despite being older and more injury-prone, gave Dallas the elite defensive anchor they lacked with Luka. The Boston Celtics also schemed Doncic into oblivion during the 2024 NBA Finals, targeting him relentlessly in pick-and-roll actions. The results were brutal: open looks, exposed rotations, and layups, all courtesy of Luka's sluggish foot speed and delayed reactions. Advertisement However, there are signs that Doncic is finally taking the criticism seriously. This offseason, photos surfaced of a slimmed-down Luka, reportedly after undergoing a modified diet and focused indoor training regimen. Now with the Lakers, he seems more determined than ever to shed the perception that he's a one-way player. Sources close to the team say his conditioning has vastly improved, and his attention to detail during film sessions has been sharper than in years past. Whether that transformation translates to better defensive results on the court remains to be seen. But as Gary Payton emphasized, defense isn't about talent, it's about choice. Doncic has all the tools to become a passable, even respectable defender. But only time will tell if the new-look Lakers star finally develops the mindset required to back it up. Advertisement Related: Luka Doncic Predicted To Take $63 Million Hit On Lakers' Contract Following $100 Million+ Loss In Mavericks Trade This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Broncos roster: S Talanoa Hufanga (No. 9) improves already-stout defense
Broncos Wire's 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fifth-year safety Talanoa Hufanga, No. 9. Before the Broncos: Hufanga was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (180th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft, and he was thrust into action almost immediately. Hufanga saw action in 15 of 17 games in 2021, starting three games, recording 32 tackles (24 solo, eight assisted), one tackle for loss and one QB hit. Hufanga's best season as a pro came in 2022 when he started 17 games, earning a Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro nod after netting four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles, nine pass deflections, two sacks, 97 total tackles (66 solo, 31 assisted) and five tackles for losses. In 2023 and 2024, Hufanga had his seasons cut short due to injury, although he managed to put together some strong stats in 2023. Before tearing his ACL in Week 11 of 2023, Hufanga collected three interceptions, three pass deflections, 52 total tackles (39 solo, 13 assisted), one tackle for loss and two QB hits. In 2024, Hufanga only started seven games, making 38 total tackles (20 solo, 18 assisted) and two tackles for loss before suffering various injuries that sidelined him on injured reserve. Broncos tenure: Hufanga departed the 49ers as an unrestricted free agent this spring, signing with the Broncos on a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. He is projected to start across from Brandon Jones in 2025. Chance to make the 53-man roster: Lock. The Broncos would not have brought in Hufanga, even with his injury-riddled history, if he were not going to be a starter. Hufanga will be a vital piece in a Denver defense that was near the top of the league in every defensive statistical category last year. Hufanga and fellow free agent signee Dre Greenlaw will help Denver's defense reach another level in 2025. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
