Do Caitlin Clark & the Fever have the pieces to win a WNBA title?
Are the Cavs being exposed by the Pacers? | Good Word with Goodwill
Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Jason Goff to discuss Indiana taking a 3-1 series lead on Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals and what the Cavaliers are lacking as they sit one game from elimination. Hear the full conversation on 'Good Word with Goodwill' and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pacers Struggle to Compete as Thunder Tie the Series
Pacers Struggle to Compete as Thunder Tie the Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Game 2 of the NBA saw the Oklahoma City Thunder jump out on the Indiana Pacers early and never look back. The Thunder tied up the series, taking a critical win in Game 2 by a score of 123-107. The Thunder were led in scoring by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 34 points, while the Pacers were topped by Tyrese Haliburton with 17 points. Advertisement The first quarter started off with the Thunder being very aggressive and attacking the rim. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed determined to not let a repeat of Game 1 take place. Their sheer defensive pressure caused Indiana to play very sloppily for the first few minutes. Andrew Nembhard turned up the intensity on both sides of the ball. He played defense on Shai very physically, causing the league's MVP to work a bit harder for his buckets. On the offensive end, Nembhard would continue to look for his shot, either from three or getting to his mid-range game. The Thunder were bolstered in the first quarter by their star big man Chet Holmgren. In Game 1, Holmgren only had 6 points for the entire game. In the first quarter of this game, Holmgren came out blazing, dropping nine points. He was aggressive and shooting with confidence, and it could be felt. The Thunder led by six points at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Thunder go on a 19-2 run and extend their lead out to over 20 points. The Pacers would ride the shoulders of Pascal Siakam to try and bring them back by attacking mismatches, but ultimately, the Thunder would carry an 18-point lead into halftime. Advertisement The story of the Pacers' comeback in Game 1 was the unlikely production from their bench, specifically Obi Toppin, who contributed 17 points to help the effort. The same held true in the first half for the Thunder. Aaron Wiggins came in off the bench and hit some big threes. He would drop eight points in the first half, while veteran big Kenrich Williams would also push the pace for the Thunder. His effort for the team cannot be seen on the stat sheet, but was undeniable. The Pacers started the third quarter with a focused effort to get Myles Turner involved. The Thunder went back to their two-big lineup with Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and it caused some problems for the Pacers. This approach with Turner was definitely an attempt to counter that lineup. The Pacers would cut the lead down to 14 at the halfway point of the quarter. However, the lead remained at 19 at the end of the third quarter. Advertisement The Pacers struggled all game to adjust to the defensive pressure being applied by the Thunder. Tyrese Haliburton really struggled to get going offensively and had several turnovers. If the Pacers are going to have a chance in this series, he is going to have to get going offensively earlier. They cannot continue to play from behind against the top team in the Western Conference every game. Again, the Thunder take Game 2 by a score of 123-107. Game 3 will be played on Wednesday, June 11, back in Indianapolis. Related: Tyrese Haliburton Describes Pacers Team in One Word After Game 1 Win Related: Pacers' Rick Carlisle Reveals Honest Thoughts on Colleague Being Fired This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals 'Hard' Lesson Indiana Pacers Taught Him
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals 'Hard' Lesson Indiana Pacers Taught Him originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Even though Andrew Nembhard put him on skates before hitting a clutch 3-pointer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked poised for the entirety of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 111-110 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Advertisement SGA missed a midrange shot in the final seconds that would have put the Thunder up by three points, and he finished with 38 points on 46.7 percent shooting to go with three steals. However, it wasn't quite enough, as the Pacers roared back, winning their fifth game of the postseason thanks to a last-second Tyrese Haliburton shot. Indiana only led for 0.3 seconds of the game, but it was enough to earn a shocking win on the road and take a lead in the Finals, where many expected them to get swept. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander offered an honest assessment. "We had control of the game for the most part of it," said Gilgeous-Alexander to the media. "Now, it is a 48-minute game, and they teach you that lesson more than anyone else in the league, the hard way." Advertisement The Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and now the Thunder have all learned that lesson thanks to the Pacers. It doesn't matter how big of a lead you have, Indiana will fight until the final buzzer, and it's truly not over until it's over. Game 2 will keep the series in Oklahoma City, tipping off on Sunday night. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Indiana Pacers Break Remarkable 26-Year-Old Record in Finals Related: Pacers Pull Off Dramatic Comeback to Steal NBA Finals Game 1 at OKC This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Myles Turner details how Pacers lost to Thunder
Myles Turner details how Pacers lost to Thunder originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Sunday night, the Indiana Pacers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, losing 123-107. After roaring back in Game 1, the Pacers entered the game with all the momentum in the world, but the Thunder showed why they are heavy favorites. Advertisement The series will shift to Indiana for the next two games, and the Pacers are hoping to find some home-court advantage in Games 3 and 4, although they know that they make their own luck and have to be in total control of the series. The Pacers cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks in the playoffs thanks to their speedy play on both ends of the floor, although the Thunder's offense in Game 2, especially in the halfcourt, was methodical and efficient, limiting misses and mistakes. As a result, the Pacers couldn't get out and run, causing the chaos that they often thrive in. "Force them to a miss," outlined Myles Turner as a simple goal for the Pacers. "You grab the ball, get out of transition, and play our best basketball. But if we're having to take the ball out every single time or fouls, it slows down our offense, obviously. So, just finding more and more ways to mix it up defensively." Advertisement The Thunder and Pacers both took 82 shots in the game, although OKC, obviously, made more, and they got to the free throw line with ease, slowing the game down and allowing their defense to get set on the other end. While Indiana has embraced physicality this year, if it results in fouls, soft or not, it defeats the purpose of bringing defensive intensity. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals 'Hard' Lesson Indiana Pacers Taught Him Related: Pacers Struggle to Compete as Thunder Tie the Series This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
