Carlesimo: Magic 'poised to make a run' with Bane
P. J. Carlesimo joins the Dan Patrick Show to discuss what makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so special on offense, what went wrong for Indiana during Game 4, the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade, and more.
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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner Sparks Fresh Outrage For Denying Hurling 'Racist' Remark At Caitlin Clark As Fans Demand Apology
Brittney Griner is finally addressing the heated moment she seemingly had over Caitlin Clark during a May 22nd game between the Atlantic Dream and the Indiana Fever. Griner allegedly called Clark a "f-cking white girl," but she denied it, saying she only remembers "being mad." Advertisement At the time, fans slammed Brittney Griner for the remark, with many calling on the WNBA to put measures in place to prevent such an occurrence. Brittney Griner Doesn't Remember Making Alleged Remark MEGA Brittney Griner has admitted to saying something during a heated moment when her team met Caitlin Clark's team in May, but doesn't remember exactly what was said. During the encounter, Griner fouled out in a tackle with Clark, who may have exaggerated some contact to draw a foul in an 81-76 Fever win. The three-time Olympic Gold medalist was then seen venting her frustration on the bench with lip readers on social media speculating that she said "f-cking white girl," which she denies. Advertisement "I remember fouling out, being mad," Griner told Outkick's Dan Zaksheske on Sunday. "I really can't remember what I said, honestly." When asked if it was possible that she said "f-cking white girl," Griner denied any such comments. "I know it wasn't that because I wouldn't use that type of language," she said. Zaksheske then offered to replay a video of the incident to help her refresh her memory, but Griner didn't seem to think it would help her decipher what she truly said. Fans Call Out Brittney Griner Griner's latest comment led to fresh calls for her to apologize, with many accusing her of lying. Advertisement One person wrote on X, "Well as long as she doesn't remember saying it I guess there's nothing to see here folks. Rosanne should've tried that excuse." When the video of the incident made the rounds on social media, it also drew strong reactions from several fans. "You're so insecure, and it's funny how you tell the whole world without admitting it to yourself," a fan wrote at the time. Another WNBA fan said, "I am frustrated by the negative attention directed at Caitlin Clark from some women in the league due to her exceptional talent. Referring to her in derogatory terms is unprofessional and unacceptable." Advertisement Some individuals online even accused Griner of playing the race card while calling for an investigation into the matter. "The @WNBA is fine with players being racist," a fan wrote. "As long as it's racism against white people. Fun fact, you can file a lawsuit anywhere." Netizens Claim Brittney Griner Said' F-cking Wack Call' MEGA However, several individuals online have defended Griner, speculating she didn't use those words. "Lips don't quite match up to saying 'White' at all. Particularly, there doesn't appear to be any 'T' enunciation. And she definitely didn't say 'Girl,'" one fan added. "Imagine if right-wing influencers on X didn't actively and knowingly monetize off of stirring up racial division." Advertisement Another fan said that Griner actually yelled that the referee had made a "f-cking wack call" by penalizing her for the sixth time in the game. Brittney Griner Was Involved In A Drug Controversy MEGA Griner was previously involved in a controversy and missed the 2022 season when she was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months. At the time, authorities conducted a search on her luggage and discovered vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis. Fortunately for Griner, she was eventually freed in a prisoner swap. Earlier this month, Outkick founder Clay Travis claimed the WNBA had banned his publication from covering Griner out of fear they would ask her about the controversial video, a ban which appears to have now been lifted. Advertisement "The @wnba has refused to credential @outkick for @brittneygriner games because they don't want her asked about the 'f-cking white girl' viral video comment," Travis wrote on X. "And no other 'media' outlet in America covering the WNBA is willing to ask her about it." Caitlin Clark Returns From Injury With A Bang MEGA Meanwhile, Clark returned with a bang as the Indiana Fever squared up to the Liberty on Saturday. She scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first quarter and kicked things into gear with three treys in 38 seconds. The match, which took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, saw the Indiana Fever record a 102-88 win with Clark scoring a team-high 32 points — hitting 7 of her 14 3-point attempts — to go along with nine assists and eight rebounds. Advertisement According to the New York Post, she'd missed the last five games due to a strained quad shortly after her encounter with Griner. Before the game on Saturday, she made clear her intention to put up a sterling performance. "Why would I be out there to play 20 minutes?" she told reporters. "I'm out there to win and give everything I have for this team."
Fox News
16 minutes ago
- Fox News
Basketball legend says Caitlin Clark's 3-point onslaught left her speechless
Caitlin Clark put the rest of the WNBA on notice as she returned to the Indiana Fever lineup with a vengeance and upended the New York Liberty's undefeated streak on Saturday night. Clark's 32-point victory in the 102-88 win gave Indiana its fifth win of the season. Clark made seven 3-pointers, including three in a 38-second span that even shocked former Liberty star Rebecca Lobo. The Basketball Hall of Famer talked about Clark's performance and what she means to WNBA viewership as the league saw numbers dwindle a bit in her absence. "It means a lot more people are paying attention once again," Lobo said Monday on ESPN's "First Take," via Awful Announcing. "We know how much Caitlin drives ratings. We know how much Caitlin drives attention on the WNBA. For her to come back and do it in that way was just ridiculous. "I'm sitting there at the end of the first quarter when she had that 38-second stretch where she drained deep three after deep three after deep three. I was just sitting there thinking, I've been around this league since 1997. I have never seen that in a WNBA game. Have we seen players go on runs? Of course, we have, but not like that, not where a couple of the 3-pointers are from 30-plus feet." The Fever pointed out just how deep Clark's range was. Three of her 3-pointers came from beyond 30 feet. She hit the rest from at least 26 feet. The WNBA 3-point line is 22 feet away from the basket. "It was an exhibition by her after being out for 19 days to recover from an injury," Lobo added. "Couple that with the other passes that she made and some of the other plays, it was just ridiculous. It's not often that you're watching the WNBA, or that I'm watching it, and I'm like, 'Wow, I've just never seen this before.'" Indiana returns to the floor Tuesday night against the Connecticut Sun. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
35 minutes ago
- USA Today
NBA Finals Game 5 updates: Pacers vs. Thunder predictions, time, where to watch
NBA Finals Game 5 updates: Pacers vs. Thunder predictions, time, where to watch Show Caption Hide Caption Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it's 'small-market' billing USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Sports Pulse A classic, back-and-forth NBA Finals returns to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will aim to do something neither team has been able to do in the series: Win consecutive games. The Indiana Pacers, meanwhile, had the weekend to stew over the missed opportunity they had to take a 3-1 series lead at home. The Pacers held the lead for much of Friday's Game 4, only to allow the Thunder to prevail 111-104 thanks to a fourth-quarter surge. Oklahoma City was able to even the series heading back home thanks to league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter of the Thunder's Game 4 win. It all adds up to a crucial Game 5. USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the game. Follow along. What time is Thunder vs. Pacers game today? The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. Where to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 Time: 8:30 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) TV: ABC ABC Stream: Fubo, Sling TV Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo There was only one day of rest between Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals — the only time in the series with that quick of a turnaround. Initially, that might not seem significant, but at this stage of the playoffs, a short rest can feed fatigue and give an edge to the better conditioned team. Both coaches reflected on how their teams have been using the additional day before Game 5. 'At this point, the extra time allows extra analysis,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'So we spent a lot of time looking at the previous game, and many cases, looking at other games that were previous. Sometimes you look at stuff during the regular season, et cetera, et cetera. 'But I don't think there's a big difference between how much film we're looking at with a two-day break as there is a one-day break. I think every coaching staff in the NBA is going to be on top of it as best they can, they are going to look at everything, and try not to overanalyze.' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was a little more coy about his team's approach. 'I do twice as much parenting,' he said, 'not twice as much work.' — Lorenzo Reyes first five of Game 5. — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 17, 2025 Tyrese Haliburton, G Andrew Nembhard, G Aaron Nesmith, F Pascal Siakam, F Myles Turner, C Our 5️⃣ for Game 5 ⚡️ — OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 17, 2025 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G Lu Dort, G Jalen Williams, F Chet Holmgren, F Isaiah Hartenstein, C Jarace Walker is out with a right ankle sprain, according to the latest injury report on Monday, June 16. Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took exception Sunday to the criticism being levied at officiating during the NBA Finals, specifically the rebukes against Scott Foster. 'I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about officiating, and Scott Foster in particular,' Carlisle said Sunday, June 15. 'I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid.' Many Pacers and NBA fans had taken to social media to criticize Foster for his performance Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, an eventual 111-104 Oklahoma City Thunder victory that evened the series at 2-2. — Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes The NBA's 3-point shot has enemies. Too many 3s, they say. The shot is ruining the game, they say. And those critics of the 3-point shot found ammunition in the Eastern Conference semifinals of this season's playoffs when the Boston Celtics attempted 60 3-pointers and missed 45 against the New York Knicks. The guffawing ignored the fact that Boston's 3-point shooting was instrumental in its 2023-24 championship season and in its 61-21 record this season. Regardless of your aesthetic view of how basketball should be played and what it should look like, the 3-point shot has turned divisive but remains vital to winning championships. USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt takes a deeper look at this divisive shot. The NBA Finals TV ratings discussion is a classic struggle between the optimist and the pessimist. One headline: "NBA Finals have been most-watched programs since first week of May.' Another headline: 'NBA Finals ratings down 24%.' Two things can be true in this season's Finals between 'small-market' Indiana and Oklahoma City. Yes, ratings are down from last season's Finals between Boston and Dallas, and yes, the Thunder-Pacers Finals have brought in millions of viewers, including a peak of 11.54 million at 11 p.m. ET of Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11. Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the TV ratings for the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder. INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers needed Game 4. They had Game 4. At least it looked that way for three quarters. Felt like Indiana was headed for a 3-1 series lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Felt like Indiana was in control. And they were. Until they were not. USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt looks at the Pacers' Game 4 loss. If the NBA Finals matchup of the league's 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA's owners intentionally brought on themselves. While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties. Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we've seen in our lifetimes. — Dan Wolken Read Wolken's full column here. Where is Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder? The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 3-2 lead in the series vs. the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16): Spread : Thunder (-9.5) : Thunder (-9.5) Moneyline : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) Over/under: 224.5 The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 5 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Monday, June 16). Series winner: Thunder (-625); Pacers (+450) USA TODAY: Most pick Thunder in Game 5 Scooby Axson: Thunder 121, Pacers 116 Thunder 121, Pacers 116 Jordan Mendoza : Thunder 112, Pacers 106 : Thunder 112, Pacers 106 Lorenzo Reyes : Pacers 121, Thunder 106 : Pacers 121, Thunder 106 Heather Tucker : Thunder 131, Pacers 118 : Thunder 131, Pacers 118 James Williams : Pacers 110, Thunder 107 : Pacers 110, Thunder 107 Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 115, Pacers 105 USA TODAY: Every expert picked the Thunder Ahead of the series opener, all of the NBA experts at USA TODAY Sports picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals Scooby Axson: Thunder in five Thunder in five Jordan Mendoza: Thunder in six Thunder in six Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder in six Thunder in six Heather Tucker: Thunder in five Thunder in five James Williams: Thunder in six Thunder in six Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder in five The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ABC. Game 5 between the Thunder and Pacers is available on ABC. Fans can also stream the action with Sling TV and Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users. ABC is set to broadcast the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers starting lineups introductions ahead of Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals for the first time since 2013, ESPN reported on Monday. All times Eastern; *-if necessary (Series tied 2-2) Eastern Conference finals No. 4 Indiana Pacers def. No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-2 Western Conference finals No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder def. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1 NBA Finals No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (Series tied 2-2) Official assignments are announced at 9 a.m. on the day of the game. Here are the referees assigned to Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Monday. John Goble (ninth Finals, officiated Game 1) Marc Davis (14th Finals, officiated Game 1) James Williams (fifth Finals, officiated Game 2) Odds via BetMGM on Monday, June 16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-600) Pascal Siakam (+800) Tyrese Haliburton (+900) Jalen Williams (+3500) Alex Caruso (+15000) Chet Holmgren (+30000) The Oklahoma City Thunder have one NBA championship. However, it came in 1979 when the team was the Seattle SuperSonics. They have not won a title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. The Indiana Pacers have not won an NBA championship. They have two Eastern Conference titles (2000, 2025). Dort averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 71 games (all starts) this season. Dort is averaging slightly lower than his regular-season stats in the 2025 NBA Finals, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists through four games. 5️⃣ checking in for Game 5️⃣ — OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 16, 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA and voted on the squad. View the complete list. Here's a look at the winners over the past 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit 2023-24 — Boston Celtics 2022-23 — Denver Nuggets 2021-22 — Golden State Warriors 2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks 2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers 2018-19 — Toronto Raptors 2017-18 — Golden State Warriors 2016-17 — Golden State Warriors 2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers 2014-15 — Golden State Warriors 2013-14 — San Antonio Spurs 2012-13 — Miami Heat 2011-12 — Miami Heat 2010-11 — Dallas Mavericks 2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers 2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers 2007-08 — Boston Celtics 2006-07 — San Antonio Spurs 2005-06 — Miami Heat 2004-05 — San Antonio Spurs The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
