Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how OKC playoff crowd help Thunder prepare for road environment
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on how OKC playoff crowd help Thunder prepare for road environment
If you look up at the jumbotron enough times, you'll see a noise decibel meter reach over triple-digit points at least once. As the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time in 13 years, a global audience has familiarized itself with the homecourt advantage the title favorite enjoys.
The Thunder entered the championship series as the popular pick over the Indiana Pacers. Easy to understand why. You don't need a master's degree in basketball. OKC had one of the greatest regular seasons ever. That's translated to the playoffs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had one of the best scoring campaigns ever as an MVP winner.
After Tyrese Haliburton stunned the OKC crowd with a Game 1 game-winner, the Thunder bounced back with a 123-107 Game 2 win. They still need to do work to regain homecourt advantage, but it was a solid start after they dropped the ball to open the series.
The Thunder hope they'll get the chance to clinch a championship on their home floor. You don't need to look way too far back to see the type of intangible boost they receive in front of their fans. They blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 to clinch the Western Conference Finals.
For visiting media from across the world, it's been quite the culture shock to see such an active NBA crowd. The Thunder faithful received comparisons to notorious sports environments, like international soccer games. Gilgeous-Alexander talked about it after Game 2 and how it weirdly prepares them for the opposite.
"It helps a lot. It feels like throughout the whole playoffs the crowd has found a way to get louder every game. I don't know how they do it. Yeah, it's special to be able to play in front of them," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It honestly makes the road games a little bit easier because it feels like it's almost not as loud as it's been at home. Yeah, they're special. The best fans in the world."
Let's see if Pacers fans can make Gilgeous-Alexander eat his words. They'll host their first NBA Finals games in 25 years with Games 3 and 4. The Thunder travel on the road with the hopes of at least a split. But they've shown all year they could certainly take both if everything clicks for them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge homers in third straight game, Clarke Schmidt dazzles as Yankees beat the Royals, 6-3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third consecutive game, Clarke Schmidt allowed just two hits over six innings, and the New York Yankees cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. Paul Goldschmidt added a pair of RBIs during a five-run second inning for New York, which improved to 5-0 against the Royals this season. The Yankees are are 12-3 against them since the start of last season, including their playoff series win. Advertisement Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer during a three-run ninth for Kansas City. Schmidt (3-3) allowed one runner to reach second base, and that was courtesy of his own balk that advanced Maikel Garcia in the first inning. He also struck out seven to remain unbeaten in six regular-season appearances against the Royals. Devin Williams got the final two outs for his eighth save. Kris Bubic (5-4) looked like he might be in for a duel with Schmidt after a perfect first inning. But he proceeded to allow five runs on four hits and two walks during the second, and ultimately six hits and four walks in just 4 1/3 innings. Judge's homer off Steven Cruz came on the heels of a two-homer game Sunday against Boston and a 469-foot shot in the series opener against Kansas City on Tuesday night. The two-time MVP has eight RBIs over the three-game span. Advertisement Until Perez's homer, the biggest highlight for the Royals came in the fifth inning, when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out. DJ LeMahieu hit a sharp grounder to third base, where Garcia fielded it while falling to his rump. He threw to second from his back side, and a relay by Jonathan India to first base resulted in an inning-ending double play. Key moment Jazz Chisholm, who later left the game with left groin tightness, drew a walk in the second inning after plate umpire Lance Barrett called what would have been the third strike a questionable ball. The Yankees capitalized on their fortunes, sending 10 batters to the plate in what became the decisive inning. Key stat Advertisement The Royals (34-34) are 10-18 after going on a 16-2 run in April and May. Up next Yankees RHP Will Warren (4-3, 5.34) starts the series finale Thursday night. RHP Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.46) goes for Kansas City. ___ AP MLB: Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
Fox Sports
11 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Aaron Judge homers in third straight game, Clarke Schmidt dazzles as Yankees beat the Royals, 6-3
Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Aaron Judge homered for the third consecutive game, Clarke Schmidt allowed just two hits over six innings, and the New York Yankees cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. Paul Goldschmidt added a pair of RBIs during a five-run second inning for New York, which improved to 5-0 against the Royals this season. The Yankees are are 12-3 against them since the start of last season, including their playoff series win. Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer during a three-run ninth for Kansas City. Schmidt (3-3) allowed one runner to reach second base, and that was courtesy of his own balk that advanced Maikel Garcia in the first inning. He also struck out seven to remain unbeaten in six regular-season appearances against the Royals. Devin Williams got the final two outs for his eighth save. Kris Bubic (5-4) looked like he might be in for a duel with Schmidt after a perfect first inning. But he proceeded to allow five runs on four hits and two walks during the second, and ultimately six hits and four walks in just 4 1/3 innings. Judge's homer off Steven Cruz came on the heels of a two-homer game Sunday against Boston and a 469-foot shot in the series opener against Kansas City on Tuesday night. The two-time MVP has eight RBIs over the three-game span. Until Perez's homer, the biggest highlight for the Royals came in the fifth inning, when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out. DJ LeMahieu hit a sharp grounder to third base, where Garcia fielded it while falling to his rump. He threw to second from his back side, and a relay by Jonathan India to first base resulted in an inning-ending double play. Key moment Jazz Chisholm, who later left the game with left groin tightness, drew a walk in the second inning after plate umpire Lance Barrett called what would have been the third strike a questionable ball. The Yankees capitalized on their fortunes, sending 10 batters to the plate in what became the decisive inning. Key stat The Royals (34-34) are 10-18 after going on a 16-2 run in April and May. Up next Yankees RHP Will Warren (4-3, 5.34) starts the series finale Thursday night. RHP Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.46) goes for Kansas City. ___ AP MLB: recommended
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Caitlin Clark hit the Pacers' choking celebration at NBA Finals Game 3
The choke celebration has become an immortal element of Indiana Pacers lore since 1994, when Reggie Miller dropped it on the New York Knicks. It's been revitalized in 2025 thanks to Tyrese Haliburton, who did his best impression of Miller after a buzzer-beater shot in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks that sent the game to overtime, with the Pacers ultimately winning the contest and the series. Haliburton has brought the choke celebration back for a new generation of basketball fans, and during Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis on Wednesday night, WNBA star Caitlin Clark hit the choke celebration against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Clark and Haliburton are good friends, and the former first overall pick with the Indiana Fever was in the building to cheer on the Pacers as they seek the first NBA title in franchise history. With Clark now mimicking Haliburton's imitation of Miller, it's safe to say that basketball in the city of Indianapolis is so back.
