Latest news with #EasternConferenceFinalsMVP
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pacers center Myles Turner's emotional reaction to finally reaching NBA Finals
The post Pacers center Myles Turner's emotional reaction to finally reaching NBA Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints. After 10 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, starting center Myles Turner discussed the significance of making his first NBA Finals appearance. The Pacers cruised to a 125-108 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. They'll face the Oklahoma City Thunder as Turner will make his NBA Finals debut. Advertisement After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, Turner, who's spent his entire career with the Pacers, will compete for an NBA championship. 'Long time coming man, come on!… I've spent a third of my life here man. It's crazy,' Turner said after Game 6's blowout win. He finished with 11 points and two rebounds, one of seven Pacers players who scored in double figures, led by Pacers All-Stars Pascal Siakam (31 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (21 points, 13 assists). Obi Toppin's 18 points and three blocks led the second unit, Andrew Nembhard added 14 points, eight assists, and six steals, and Thomas Bryant tallied 11 points and three rebounds. Myles Turner and the Pacers will face the Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on the road. Pacers' Pascal Siakam wins Eastern Conference Finals MVP Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. His stellar play throughout the series shone at its brightest in the series-clinching victory. In Game 6, he finished with 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. He shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Siakam showcased the consistency that the Pacers needed to avoid a Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden, and a potential collapse after the Pacers held a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series. He averaged 24.8 points, five rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. For the second time in his career, he will take part in the NBA Finals. Siakam earned his first NBA title with the Raptors in 2019, beating the Warriors 4-2.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tyrese Haliburton's classy trophy gesture to Pascal Siakam after Pacers' ECF win
The post Tyrese Haliburton's classy trophy gesture to Pascal Siakam after Pacers' ECF win appeared first on ClutchPoints. There may be a video circling around showing Tyrese Haliburton expecting himself to be the recipient of the Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors (and not winning after the award was given to Pascal Siakam), but make no mistake about it, the Indiana Pacers have as harmonious of a locker room as it can get. It's this unselfishness that has powered them all the way to the 2025 NBA Finals, where they look to continue their miracle run by defeating an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that has 80 wins to its name this season. Advertisement Haliburton is the kind of player who celebrates his teammates' accomplishments as his own, living up to his goal of being a 'good mom' for the Pacers, and he showed this by giving Siakam the opportunity to pose for a photo while holding both the ECF MVP and the ECF championship trophy. 'Come on, P. Here. Yeah, you gotta hold both,' Haliburton told Siakam in the locker room, via footage from the official NBA account on X (formerly Twitter). But beyond giving Siakam the ECF trophy as well for him to hold, Haliburton was one of his biggest hype men; Haliburton was giving Siakam 'MVP' chants, which was well-deserved for the way the latter stabilized a lot of things for the Pacers in their ECF triumph over the New York Knicks. Advertisement There is very little ego in this Pacers team, and this has powered them to play at a level better than the sum of their parts. It's this immaculate locker room chemistry that they have that gives them a shot against the Thunder in the NBA Finals even if the odds are stacked against them. Pacers look to continue being the team of destiny Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images All playoffs long, it seems like the Pacers are being chosen by the basketball gods to go all the way and reach the mountaintop of the NBA. In three of the playoff series they've won thus far this year, they made one miracle comeback in each — overturning a seven-point deficit in the final few seconds of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers while stunning the Knicks with a comeback from 15 down with less than two minutes to go in Game 1 of the ECF. Now, the Thunder will pose a different challenge; OKC has almost no weak spots defensively for Haliburton and Siakam to exploit, while they also have the pace to stymie the Pacers' run and gun approach. But the Pacers have faced long odds in the past and have triumphed, so they should not be counted out in any capacity in this year's Finals.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jalen Williams sees similarities between Thunder, Pacers ahead of 2025 NBA Finals
Jalen Williams sees similarities between Thunder, Pacers ahead of 2025 NBA Finals The 2025 NBA Finals are set. The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the championship round as a heavy favorite over the Indiana Pacers. While some might see it as boring without the big-market glitz and glamor, the best offense and defense squaring off always provide an interesting dynamic. Still days away from Game 1, Jalen Williams sees some similarities between the Thunder and Pacers. Sure, OKC was a winning machine in the regular season and a buzzsaw in the West playoffs and Indiana got hot at the right time, but both teams have more in common than the average fan might think. 'They play fast and that's what fuels their whole identity. They're really talented. Mark made a really good point that they are feeling the exact same way we feel," Williams said. "They've had to win three series. We've had to win three series. They're coming in extremely confident. We're coming in extremely confident." The Pacers punched their ticket in a Game 6 blowout win over the New York Knicks. With Reggie Miller in the building, Indiana ensured it wouldn't flirt with a blown 3-1 series lead as it made the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history and first time since 2000. Williams sees how close the Pacers are and looks back at the bond of his OKC squad. The Thunder have shown throughout the years how close they are as a group. It helps being in similar stages of their careers. While it might rub opposing players and fanbases the wrong way, that type of synergy has translated to on-court domination. "I was watching Myles Turner's interview yesterday and he made a really good point. I think teams that get along well and actually have really good chemistry are starting to show more," Williams said. "I think the NBA is just naturally getting younger. I think we're in that transition now. I think it's cool we have two small-market teams playing in this big stage." Like the Thunder, the Pacers have depth on their side. Tyrese Haliburton might be their franchise face, but Pascal Siakam's Eastern Conference Finals MVP award showed that they could beat you in multiple ways. Indiana will rely on its outside shooting and playmaking to pull off a historic upset.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA: 'Just unbelievable': Pascal Siakam's brilliance propels Pacers to first NBA finals since 2000
The Indiana Pacers have secured their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, defeating the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night(May 31). This victory marks only the second time in franchise history that the Pacers will compete for the championship, with the series set to begin on June 5 in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. Pascal Siakam becomes the star of the match Forward Pascal Siakam led Indiana with a game-high 31 points, earning the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Siakam's dominant performance throughout the series, including a standout 39-point game in Game 2, was instrumental in the Pacers' success. Reflecting on the achievement, Siakam described the experience as "just unbelievable," highlighting the team's resilience and unity. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton also played a crucial role, averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds over the six-game series. In Game 6, Haliburton scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, helping to seal the victory for Indiana. Live Events The Pacers' journey to the Finals has been marked by strategic roster moves. The acquisition of Siakam from the Toronto Raptors addressed key deficiencies in size and defense, transforming Indiana into legitimate contenders. Additionally, the trade for Haliburton in exchange for Domantas Sabonis has proven pivotal, with Haliburton emerging as a franchise cornerstone. Head coach Rick Carlisle , in his second stint with the Pacers, has guided the team through this remarkable postseason run. Carlisle previously led Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004 and won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. The upcoming Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder promise an exciting matchup. Both teams have rebuilt through savvy trades, including those involving Paul George, which have shaped their current rosters. The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will have home-court advantage in the series. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Pacers will seek their first championship in franchise history. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
NBA: 'Just unbelievable': Pascal Siakam's brilliance propels Pacers to first NBA finals since 2000
NBA Finals: The Indiana Pacers are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, after defeating the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Pascal Siakam's outstanding performance earned him the series MVP award. They are set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in a highly anticipated championship series. Pascal Siakam celebrates Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors after leading the Indiana Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pascal Siakam becomes the star of the match Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Indiana Pacers have secured their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, defeating the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night(May 31).This victory marks only the second time in franchise history that the Pacers will compete for the championship, with the series set to begin on June 5 in Oklahoma City against the Pascal Siakam led Indiana with a game-high 31 points, earning the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Siakam's dominant performance throughout the series, including a standout 39-point game in Game 2, was instrumental in the Pacers' success. Reflecting on the achievement, Siakam described the experience as "just unbelievable," highlighting the team's resilience and guard Tyrese Haliburton also played a crucial role, averaging 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds over the six-game series. In Game 6, Haliburton scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, helping to seal the victory for Pacers' journey to the Finals has been marked by strategic roster moves. The acquisition of Siakam from the Toronto Raptors addressed key deficiencies in size and defense, transforming Indiana into legitimate the trade for Haliburton in exchange for Domantas Sabonis has proven pivotal, with Haliburton emerging as a franchise coach Rick Carlisle , in his second stint with the Pacers, has guided the team through this remarkable postseason run. Carlisle previously led Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004 and won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in upcoming Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder promise an exciting matchup. Both teams have rebuilt through savvy trades, including those involving Paul George, which have shaped their current rosters. The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will have home-court advantage in the 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 5 in Oklahoma City, where the Pacers will seek their first championship in franchise history.
