Latest news with #2020Finals
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Thunder- Pacers Game 2 Viewership Hits Stunning New Low
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The 2025 NBA Finals are underway between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. More NBA Finals: Blockbuster Trade Idea Sees Lakers Move Two Key Pieces For $46M Star Game 1 of the Finals on Thursday was a doozy. It saw the Pacers mount an incredible comeback in the fourth quarter, which allowed them to steal home-court advantage and take a 1-0 series lead. There was much hype heading into Game 2, but the Thunder took care of business in front of their home crowd and ran away with the game. While the Thunder and their fans saw a game that didn't come down to a nail-biter, it didn't help the NBA's cause. Game 2 of the Finals on Sunday averaged 8.76 million viewers, marking the lowest viewership since Game 2 of the 2020 Finals and the only Finals since 2007 where viewership declined after Game 1. The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their 123-107 win against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 08, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their 123-107 win against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 08, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo bySports Media Watch shared. "Sunday's Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals Game 2 averaged 8.76 million viewers on ABC, down 29% from Mavericks-Celtics (12.31M) and the least-watched Game 2 of the Finals since the Heat-Lakers in the fall 2020 "bubble" on the night the president was hospitalized due to COVID (6.78M). Outside of that anomalous circumstance, it was the least-watched since Cavaliers-Spurs opposite the series finale of "The Sopranos" in 2007 (8.55M)." According to Sports Media Watch, this year's NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder mark just the second time in the Nielsen people meter era where neither Game 1 nor Game 2 surpassed the nine million viewer mark. Although the numbers may not show it, these NBA Finals have been worth watching. Game 2 was not pretty for the casual fan, but Game 1 was an instant classic that saw the Pacers, as they've done all season long, come back and steal that contest. The series will now shift to Indiana, where the Pacers will look to take advantage of homecourt and feed off the crowd's energy. The Pacers head into Wednesday's Game 3 as the home underdogs. Per ESPN Bet, the Thunder enter Game 3 as 5.5-point favorites. The Pacers have embraced the underdog role throughout this entire postseason, and by now, it's nothing new to them. Friday will mark Indiana's first NBA Finals home game in 25 years. More NBA news: East Powerhouse Could Enter Kevin Durant Trade Sweepstakes Kings Expected to Pursue One of Two Eastern Conference All-Stars: Report Lakers Could Miss Out on Star Center Cavaliers Star Underwent Significant Offseason Surgery Mavericks Narrowing Options for 2025 No 1 Draft Choice For more Thunder, Pacers and NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LeBron James Doesn't Hold Back in Strong Message to Critics
On the latest episode of "Mind the Game" with Hall of Famer Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke about his critics. James is one of the most scrutinized players in NBA history. Many of James' critics bash him when he doesn't take the final shot for his team. Advertisement In Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Miami Heat, James passed the ball to Danny Green, who was wide open from 3. Green, though, missed the shot and the Lakers lost to the Heat by a final score of 111-108. After the game, James' critics ripped him for not taking the last shot, even though the leading scorer in NBA history was guarded by multiple players. James spoke about those critics with Nash. "Even with the criticism, and it still goes on, like in the 2020 Finals. I had an unbelievable game against the Heat. Late in the game, I drove the ball. Two or three defenders came at me. I found Danny Green wide open for a three. He missed it. And we went to Game 6. I'd make that play every time," James said. "And people say, 'Why didn't you take the shot? There he goes again passing up the shot.' Advertisement "They've never been there. They don't understand. One of my favorite quotes, though I don't know it verbatim, is from Theodore Roosevelt about the man in the arena. It is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. And the loudest voices are always from those not in the arena. So, how can you challenge what I'm doing if you've never even stepped foot in there?" Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James© Matt Blewett-Imagn Images James and the Lakers wound up winning the 2020 Finals in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. James is a four-time MVP, a four-time champion and a four-time Finals MVP. He became the No. 1 scorer of all time in 2023. Advertisement A future Hall of Famer, James has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Heat and Lakers. He's the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in points and assists. The 40-year-old James has career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks. Related: LeBron James' Former Teammate Issues Strong Statement on Steph Curry
