logo
Pacers & Thunder face off in NBA Finals! Who has the upper hand?

Pacers & Thunder face off in NBA Finals! Who has the upper hand?

Yahoo4 days ago

Dan Devine and Tom Haberstroh break down the historic matchup between the Indiana Pacers & Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. With only a 1% chance of this pairing at the start of the season, the hosts dissect why both teams surged to the top, challenging long-held NBA assumptions about youth, roster continuity, and midseason trades. The conversation spotlights star performances from Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, plus the impact of strategic additions like Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. The episode explores why these Finals are one of the most improbable in recent memory, what sets each team apart, and what this means for the future of team-building in the NBA.
Advertisement
Don't miss the discussion on what's next for the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks, and the unique blend of clutch play, defense, and team chemistry fueling this unlikely Finals.
(1:10) - Pacers & Thunder defy all odds to face off in the NBA Finals
(20:40) - Why Thunder excel at avoiding turnovers
(26:15) - Caruso & Hartenstein fuel OKC's defensive engine
(31:50) - Pacers: clutchest team in the NBA?
(34:50) - Pacers & Thunder have both dominated in 2025
(43:20) - What's next for the Timberwolves?
(50:00) - What's next for the Knicks?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 26: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by)
(Photo by)
🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube
Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oklahoma OF Maya Bland enters the transfer portal
Oklahoma OF Maya Bland enters the transfer portal

USA Today

time10 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Oklahoma OF Maya Bland enters the transfer portal

Oklahoma OF Maya Bland enters the transfer portal Two days into the offseason, the Oklahoma Sooners have lost two players to the transfer portal, with more likely to come. On Tuesday, true freshman catcher Corri Hicks announced via social media that she's entering the portal. On Wednesday, it's Maya Bland looking for a new home. Bland stated via Instagram, "Thank you Sooner Nation for the love and support you've shown me these past two years. I greatly appreciate it. God's got a new path for me but I will cherish my time as a Sooner." The sophomore appeared primarily as a pinch runner for the Sooners in her two years in Norman, but she did have some big moments at the plate in 2025. She hit a two-run home run in Oklahoma's 5-1 win over Alabama back in April. Against Oklahoma State, Bland hit a game-winning three-run home to secure the run-rule win over the Sooners' Bedlam rivals. During her career with Oklahoma, Bland hit .277 with two doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. She had 11 stolen bases, including eight as a true freshman in 2024. The Oklahoma Sooners are set to return the key pieces to their outfield in 2025. Kasidi Pickering, Abigale Dayton, Hannah Coor, Tia Milloy, and Chaney Helton will be back. Oklahoma's also bringing in the No. 1 player in the 2025 recruiting class, outfielder Kai Minor. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Preview capsule for the NBA Finals matchup between Indiana and Oklahoma City
Preview capsule for the NBA Finals matchup between Indiana and Oklahoma City

San Francisco Chronicle​

time18 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Preview capsule for the NBA Finals matchup between Indiana and Oklahoma City

No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32, 12-4) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14, 12-4) Season series: Thunder, 2-0. Schedule: Game 1 at Oklahoma City on Thursday, Game 2 at Oklahoma City on Sunday, Game 3 at Indiana on June 11, Game 4 at Indiana on June 13, Game 5 at Oklahoma City on June 16 (if necessary), Game 6 at Indiana on June 19 (if necessary), Game 7 at Oklahoma City on June 22 (if necessary). How they got here: Oklahoma City overwhelmed Memphis in a first-round sweep, survived seven games against 2023 NBA champion Denver, then eliminated Minnesota in five games in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder finished off the series in a romp, leading by 39 points in a 124-94 victory, and are winning by about 11 points per game in the postseason. The Pacers aren't as dominant but find a way at the finish, taking out Milwaukee and top-seeded Cleveland in five games before knocking off New York in six in the East finals. Their four victories after trailing by 17 or more points are the most by a team in a single postseason. Storyline: The small markets get the big stage. For Oklahoma City, it's a second trip to the NBA Finals since moving from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder lost in their first try against Miami in 2012 but are heavy favorites in this one after compiling the NBA's best record behind MVP and scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers are making just their second NBA Finals appearance, having lost to the Lakers in 2000. Key matchup: Tyrese Haliburton vs. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Gilgeous-Alexander. Nobody can throw as many good defensive guards at a team as the Thunder, as Anthony Edwards found out when Oklahoma City limited him to 12-for-31 shooting in the final two games of the West finals. Haliburton is having a memorable postseason, hitting three game-winning or game-tying shots and topping all players with 9.8 assists. But the Thunder limited him well in the two regular-season matchups, holding the All-NBA point guard to 11 points and 5.5 assists per game. X-factor: Indiana's defense. The Pacers are potent, with their 117.4 points per game in the postseason the second-highest ever by a team entering the NBA Finals. But even they can't count on offense alone against a top defensive squad like Oklahoma City. The Pacers are going to have to slow down the Thunder and showed no signs of being able to in the regular season, as Oklahoma City reached 30 points in six of the eight quarters they played and averaged 126 per game. Prediction: The Thunder are top-to-bottom the best team in the NBA. The Pacers' road success and high-scoring offense allow them to compete in this series but not win it. Oklahoma City in 6. ___ AP NBA:

For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession
For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession

New York Times

time25 minutes ago

  • New York Times

For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession

The NBA season is long and grueling, with players aspiring to compete in June for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, which is awarded to the champions. For NBA referees, their goal is to be working in June as well, officiating in the championship series and receiving the coveted White Jacket, which is awarded to referees selected for the NBA Finals. Advertisement Earning that apparel isn't easy, and it's an honor. 'It's kind of our trophy, the medal around our neck,' veteran referee Scott Foster said in a league video. Zach Zarba added: 'It's like the Masters green jacket for us.' NBA Finals referees are selected based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Officials are evaluated by the league's referee operations management team after every round to determine advancement. 'We are grateful for these 12 individuals and their dedication to serving the game at the highest levels throughout the season,' NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a release. 'Being selected to work the NBA Finals is the top honor as an NBA official, and I congratulate this exceptional group on a worthy achievement.' Here are the referees assigned to the 2025 NBA Finals (there are some familiar names): Foster (18th finals) Tony Brothers (14th) Marc Davis (14th) James Capers (13th) Zarba (12th) John Goble (ninth) David Guthrie (eighth) Josh Tiven (sixth) James Williams (fifth) Sean Wright (second) Tyler Ford (first) Ben Taylor (first) Ford and Taylor received their first White Jackets after serving as alternates during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Courtney Kirkland and Kevin Scott are the alternates this season. Foster has officiated the most NBA Finals games among this season's pool (25), followed by Davis (21) and Brothers (17). Each will likely work one of the first four games in the series. If the series continues past Game 4, the league will assign refs as needed. Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder is at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday. (Photo of Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Tony Brothers and Eric Lewis: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store