‘Loser' label is far too harsh for Karl-Anthony Towns
On the June 3rd, 2025 edition of the Morning Take, Brandon London reacts to a WFAN host claiming that Karl-Anthony Towns is a losing basketball player after the Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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New York Post
43 minutes ago
- New York Post
The storylines to watch for in Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals battle
The Knicks got as close to reaching the NBA Finals as they have in a quarter century, but the league title once again will be decided without them. While the Knicks sort out their coaching situation with the firing of Tom Thibodeau following their Eastern Conference finals loss to Indiana, the Pacers will square off with the rolling Thunder with both teams looking to be crowned as the champions for the first time in their respective cities. (Note: The Thunder franchise did win it at all as the Seattle Supersonics in 1979, but this would mark their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008). Here are 10 storylines to follow beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night in OKC: First things first The Pacers joined the NBA in the 1976 merger with the ABA, and this only marks their second trip to the NBA Finals — and first since Reggie Miller & Co. lost in 2000 to the Lakers of Kobe, Shaq and Phil Jackson. Indiana previously won three ABA titles in the 1970s. 7 The Pacers will need Tyrese Haliburton to have a big NBA Finals against the favored Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images The Thunder reached the championship round in 2012 led by young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden before losing in five games to the Heat. One of these cities is going to get a victory celebration for the first time. That's the point All eyes will be on the scintillating matchup between two All-Star point guards, Knicks killer Tyrese Haliburton and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA will look to become the first regular-season MVP to cop an NBA title in the same season since Stephen Curry pulled off the feat with the Warriors in 2015. He is averaging 29.6 points per game during the Thunder's 12-4 march through the Western Conference. 7 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be expected to have a strong NBA Finals for the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images It's much harder for anyone to chant 'overrated' anymore at Haliburton after he has fronted his team to five playoff round victories in the past two years. He leads the NBA in postseason assists (9.8), including 15 with no turnovers in his Game 4 triple-double against the Knicks. Once a Knick … A final four that also featured Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo with the Timberwolves has resulted in each finalist boasting a former Knick in a rotational role. Former lottery pick Obi Toppin put up 18 points with three blocked shots to help extinguish the Knicks in Game 6. 7 Former Knick Obi Toppin has been a key contributor for the Pacers throughout the playoffs. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Isaiah Hartenstein posted career-highs in points and rebounds in the first season after leaving the Knicks for a three-year, $87 million deal in free agency. The age-old question Whichever teams grabs the title will boast the youngest average age of any champion since the Lakers in 1980 (25.7). The Thunder's average age is 24.7 years, and the Pacers are not far behind at 26.2 The 1977 Trail Blazers hold the record since the NBA/ABA merger with an average age of 24.5 years. 7 Former Knicks Isaiah Hartenstein has had a big year for the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images The 1A stars Pascal Siakam, and not Haliburton, was named MVP of the Eastern Conference finals with 24.8 points per game against the Knicks. The three-time All-Star forward also owns a championship ring from the 2019 Raptors. Third-year wing Jalen Williams — not to be confused with lesser-used teammate Jaylin Williams — provides OKC with viable No. 2 scoring option to Gilgeous-Alexander with 20.4 points per game in the playoffs, including 34 with six made 3-pointers in Game 4 against Minnesota. 7 Jalen Williams, talking with the media on June 4, 2025, is the second scoring option for the Thunder. AP Heady company Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who won a championship with the Mavericks in 2011, could become only the fourth head coach in NBA history to win at least one ring with multiple franchises. The 65-year-old Carlisle would join Alex Hannum (Hawks, 76ers), Pat Riley (Lakers, Heat) and Phil Jackson (Bulls, Lakers). Only four teams in NBA history won more regular-season games than the 68 posted by Mark Daigneault's Thunder this season. 7 Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle celebrates after the Pacers' Eastern Conference-clinching Game 6 win over the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images Oh, Canada While the Edmonton Oilers are trying to become the first Canadian-based NHL team to win a Stanley Cup since the Canadiens in 1993, the Great White North will be well-represented in the NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander became the seventh consecutive MVP winner born outside the United States. Lockdown OKC defender Lu Dort also hails from Canada, as do Pacers teammates Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. Either way, this will be the fourth straight year at least one Canadian will be part of the title-winning squad. Turner overdrive 7 Myles Turner looks on during Pacers practice on June 4 2025 in preparation for the NBA Finals which begins on Thursday. NBAE via Getty Images The most prominent pending unrestricted free agent on either side is longtime Indy big man Myles Turner, who is registering a league-best 2.3 blocked shots per game in the postseason among players with at least five appearances. The 6-foot-11 Turner didn't post any 20-point games against the Knicks after doing so four times in 10 games in the first two rounds against Milwaukee and Cleveland, but he's shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range. OKC big man Chet Holmgren is right behind Turner with 2.0 blocks per game in the playoffs. Home sweet home Road teams have won plenty of games in this postseason, but OKC has won eight of nine at Paycom Center, with an average margin of victory of 24.6 points, including a 51-point blowout of Memphis in the first round. The Pacers took the first two games at Madison Square Garden, after winning three times in Cleveland the previous round. The real pacemakers If Knicks fans thought Indy played at a frenetic race-track pace, the Thunder actually led the NBA in that advanced metric during the regular season with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes of play, and they have been slightly better than the Pacers in that category in the playoffs, as well. These two teams also lead the NBA in points off turnovers per game in the postseason, with the Thunder again holding the edge. Get ready for Showtime in both directions.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: Predictions, picks, odds for 2025 NBA Finals 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 Despite the daunting weather challenges of tornado warnings and thunderstorms, the Indiana Pacers arrived in Oklahoma City for the 2025 NBA Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are aiming for their second franchise NBA title (1979 as Seattle SuperSonics) and are led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams has also made significant contributions to the Thunder's success, recording 20.4 points per game so far this postseason. The Pacers are striving to make history as they pursue their first NBA title. In the postseason, Pascal Siakam has been a standout player for the team, averaging 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton has also made significant contributions, recording an average of 18.8 points and 9.8 assists per game during the playoffs. Here are the current predictions, odds and how to watch Thursday's Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. More: Tom Thibodeau didn't cost the Knicks a ring, but firing him makes sense NBA Finals picks: Thunder vs. Pacers predictions USA TODAY: Every expert picks the Thunder 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 Cydney Henderson: Thunder in six Thunder in six 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 ESPN: 14 out of 15 experts pick Thunder 14 out of 15 of ESPN's NBA experts pick the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Every expert picks the Thunder John Schuhman writes, "The Thunder are, simply, the best team in basketball. Their No. 1 defense has been ridiculously good in the playoffs, holding the Grizzlies, Nuggets and Wolves to 19.6, 15.0 and 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions, respectively, than they scored in the regular season. (Take away the Game 3 blowout and the Wolves' discrepancy would also be in the double-digits.) The Indiana offense vs. Oklahoma City defense could be the best one-end-of-the-floor matchup that we've seen in the Finals in a long time, but the Thunder should have the edge on that end of the floor and the other." NBC Sports: Experts pick Thunder Kurt Helin writes: "Here's Indiana's problem: Tyrese Haliburton is outstanding, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just better; Indiana's defense is improved and can force turnovers, but OKC's is elite and just better; Myles Turner is good, but Chet Holmgren is just better (especially paired with Isiah Hartenstein); the Pacers bench was good enough for the East, but the Thunder bench is just better. And so it goes down the line. Indiana is a quality team that's about to get overwhelmed." Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Game 1 odds The Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to take a 1-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4): Spread : Thunder (-9.5) : Thunder (-9.5) Moneyline : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) : Thunder (-450); Pacers (+340) Over/under: 231.5 Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals series odds The Oklahoma City Thunder enter Game 1 as the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers, according to BetMGM (odds as of Wednesday, June 4) Series winner: Thunder (-700); Pacers (+500) NBA Finals 2025: Schedule, time, TV channel, live streaming All times Eastern. *-if necessary Game 1, June 5: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 2, June 8: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m. Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m. Game 3, June 11: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 4, June 13 : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m. Game 5, June 16 : Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* : Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* Game 6, June 19 : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* : Thunder at Pacers | ABC, Fubo | 8:30 p.m.* Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, Fubo | 8 p.m.* Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
This Week in Sports Trivia: June 5, 2025
For Tom Thibodeau, reaching the Eastern Conference finals was not enough. The coach discovered that harsh reality on Tuesday, when the New York Knicks showed him the door. Thibodeau was just the latest NBA coach with a track record of success to lose his job this season, joining Michael Malone (Nuggets) and Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies). Thibodeau's firing was even surprising enough that Rick Carlisle, whose Indiana Pacers ended the Knicks' season, said he thought the news was 'one of those fake AI things.' It was all too real. Advertisement Still, the sports world kept on spinning this week, and the news wasn't all negative, with the Pacers taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, and the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers locking horns in the Stanley Cup Final. Heck, even the Colorado Rockies, who entered the week with a 9-50 record, went on a heater of sorts. All of that is included in our latest news quiz, so we hope you've been paying attention. Good luck, and if you have a moment, you should play our daily Connections: Sports Edition, too! (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; top photos: Emilee Chinn, Sarah Stier, William Purnell, Megan Briggs, Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
