2 News Oklahoma's Stef Manchen and Sharon Phillips talked to fans about the Thunder victory
2 News Oklahoma's Stef Manchen and Sharon Phillips talked to fans about the Thunder victory
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
18 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Mavericks schedule private pre-Draft workout for Duke's Cooper Flagg, per report
The Dallas Mavericks have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25. In preparation, they've scheduled a private workout with Duke freshman Cooper Flagg for June 17, per ESPN . The 6-foot-9 Flagg is expected to go first-overall in this month's draft, but this move would only make the likelihood of that occurring increase. Per the report, the Mavericks have no other plans to work out any other players in private like they will Flagg. The implication there is not just that the Mavericks expect to take Flagg at No. 1, but also that, were they to trade their 1:1 pick in order to acquire a haul of win-now assets to pair with Anthony Davis and — eventually — the rehabilitating Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from surgery to repair an ACL tear suffered in March — they would not be receiving meaningful 2025 draft picks in return. [Related: Inside the mind of Duke's Cooper Flagg: 'He wants to destroy his competition' ] All indications — both public and private, per ESPN — seem to be that the Mavericks will keep the pick and use it to acquire Flagg, however, especially given general manager Nico Harrison's refrain of defense winning championships being the reason the organization dealt Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a shocking February trade. Essentially, Flagg himself as viewed as a win-now asset. Flagg's offensive potential is considerable — he scored 19.2 points per game as a freshman at Duke, with 4.2 assists per game as a forward — but defense is where he truly shines. He averaged 1.4 blocks and steals per game while pulling down an average of 6.2 defensive rebounds, and the only questions about him entering the 2024-2025 NCAA season were about how quickly his offense would catch up to his stellar defensive chops. Flagg ended up winning award after award for his one-and-done performance, which also included a trip to the Final Four for Duke. The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of securing the first-overall pick in the NBA Draft, and only even had that much of one because the team went into freefall falling the Doncic trade. Despite the almost nonexistent chance of being in line to draft Flagg, however, the Mavericks ended up winning the NBA Draft lottery, and are now weeks away from bringing him to Dallas if they choose to do so. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Cooper Flagg Dallas Mavericks National Basketball Association recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Indianapolis Star
23 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
NBA Finals Game 2 winners, losers: Thunder go big, Tyrese Haliburton waits too long
Now that was a lead that was safe. After dropping the first game of the NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder thoroughly controlled the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in Game 2, 123-107. Indiana, which has posted five comebacks this postseason of at least 15 points, could never seriously threaten Oklahoma City, which had five players score at least 15 points. DOYEL: After pulling rabbit from Game 1 hat, Tyrese Haliburton disappeared much of Game 2 NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with yet another 30-point showing, this one an efficient 34-point, eight-assist night on just 21 shot attempts. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton did finish with 17 points, though he had scored just five through three quarters. Here are the winners and losers from Game 2 of the NBA Finals: It wasn't just his defense, Thunder backup guard Alex Caruso also poured in 20 points — including four drained 3-pointers — in just 27:04 of playing time. He was steady and aggressive on the offensive end, cutting into the lane when gaps opened up. Throw in fellow backup guard Aaron Wiggins, whose 18 points — including 5-of-8 from 3 — in just 20:32 also lifted the Thunder. That Caruso and Wiggins accounted for nearly 65% of Oklahoma City's 14 made 3-pointers, is a testament to the Thunder's depth. This was exactly the bounce-back game that the Thunder needed from center Chet Holmgren. Three nights after scoring just six points on 2-of-9 shooting, Holmgren got to work, though most of his production came early. Nine of his 15 points came in the first quarter. After opting to play mostly small in Game 1, Oklahoma City leaned much more on its double-big lineup with its pair of centers, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, on the floor at the same time. The result was instant, with the Thunder dominating points in the paint in the first half, 26-12. 'It takes discipline, but we try to really use these early games in the series to learn what our options are and what our trade-offs are — not assume anything,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. 'That was the intent tonight: just to get a little more information.' Through the first three quarters, the most important player of the Pacers had scored just five points on just 2-of-7 shooting. Through the first three and a half minutes of the fourth, Haliburton had scored nine points, making all four of his attempts. While Haliburton's rep as a closer cannot be questioned, his inexplicably slow starts could become costly. The Thunder will clog the paint and game-plan to slow Haliburton's attacks into the paint. He needs to find ways to score regardless. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle downplayed Haliburton's sluggish production, saying Indiana's team is an "ecosystem" and it doesn't matter where points come from. 'There's a lot more to the game than just scoring,' he said after the game. 'Everybody's got to do more.' Regardless, Haliburton is the team's most gifted player and the one who can score easiest. After the game, Carlisle was asked his thoughts on how the Pacers responded to Oklahoma City's ramped up defensive intensity. Carlisle's answer was curt and straightforward. 'Not well,' he said. The Thunder excel at crowding the paint when opposing players attack, collapsing, swarming and swatting at the ball. That is magnified particularly when Oklahoma City uses its double-big lineup with Holmgren and Hartenstein roaming down low. In the regular season, the Thunder ranked first in opponent points in the paint per game (42.5). Indiana's inability to attack the paint hurt its spacing and hurt its ability to get open looks from 3. 'The paint is our emphasis and the paint is our friend. The more that we're able to attack the paint, usually better things happen for us,' Carlisle said. Obi Toppin scored 17 points in Game 1. Thomas Bryant had five. Both players combined in Game 2 to score four on 1-of-9 shooting. Guards T.J. McConnell and Benedict Mathurin did combine for 25, but the Pacers will need much more balance from their contributions.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Detroit Pistons Linked to Experienced Big Man in Free Agency by NBA Reporter
Detroit Pistons Linked to Experienced Big Man in Free Agency by NBA Reporter originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Pistons ran out of steam in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks as big man Isaiah Stewart watched from the sidelines and Jalen Brunson's team took over the Motor City. Advertisement The loss was difficult but not unexpected considering the Pistons' relative playoff inexperience. It also shed light on Detroit's need for another big man alongside Stewart and Jalen Duren, the heroic frontcourt duo who held down the fort for most of the season in Motown. On Saturday a potential free agent signing was floated out by a popular X account that caught the attention of NBA fans nationwide. Naz Reid attempts to block Chet Holmgren during a May 28 game. © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images "The Pistons are among the teams with interest in Timberwolves big man (Naz) Reid, league sources say," reporter Marc Stein said. "Detroit is known to covet a floor-spacing big man and, according to sources, is likewise said to hold interest in Indiana's Myles Turner. Advertisement "Whether the Pistons have a tangible shot at acquiring either player, mind you, is far from clear,' Stein added. Reid could opt out of the three-year, $42 million contract he signed with the Timberwolves in June 2023 and become an unrestricted free agent. He scored over 10 points per game in his last four games of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder including four made three-pointers in his last three games. The Timberwolves were knocked out of the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year, adding to speculation that they may look to make some roster changes this offseason. Related: Detroit Pistons' 'Bad Boys' Legends Rodman, Laimbeer Reunite at Saturday Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
