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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Which NBA Finals matchups we're watching the closest in OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The 2025 NBA Finals tip off Thursday night with Game 1 between the Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City. Here's what the USA Today Sports Network's two beat writers who cover their respective teams the most — IndyStar's Dustin Dopirak and Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman — view as the biggest matchup to watch in the NBA Finals: Advertisement Pre-order commemorative book on Thunder's run to NBA Finals MUSSATTO: SGA or Haliburton? Ranking 10 most important players in OKC Thunder vs Pacers NBA Finals NBA Finals matchup to watch: Jalen Williams vs Pascal Siakam So far, Pascal Siakam has been capable of swinging a series to his versatile whims. His crossmatching and lengthy ways proved consistent versus the Knicks, in large part what stuck with the voters who deemed him worthy of East finals MVP. He's a positional problem, able to create off the dribble versus traditional big men and body smaller forwards. Consider Jalen Williams the mismatch for the mismatch. With a freakishly long wingspan, a stocky torso and his affinity for midrange jumpers, Williams has proved challenging for defenses for much of this run. Not to mention his attributes let him scale up or down to defend anyone from Siakam to Andrew Nembhard to Myles Turner. Advertisement Let the best forward win. —Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman More: How Chet Holmgren rebounded from hip injury to help power Thunder to NBA Finals NBA Finals matchup to watch: Luguentz Dort vs. Tyrese Haliburton The primary problem Tyrese Haliburton has had to find a solution for over the past two seasons has been top-level defenders who face-guard him and devote all of their attention to keeping the ball out of his hands or giving him no space to operate when he gets it. Early in the season he more than once took the approach of simply sitting back, taking a top-level defender out of the equation and allowing his teammates to play 4-on-4, but he's found that more often than not, that leads to defeat. So he and the Pacers have had to scheme ways to peel those defenders off Haliburton with on- or off-ball screening so that he can get the ball going downhill with space to function. Advertisement The best defenders don't make that easy, however, and no one makes it harder than Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort. Dort was named first-team All-Defense this year and being defended by him is such a harrowing experience that it has earned the nickname "The Dorture Chamber." At 6-4, 220 pounds, he's built like a linebacker and he's one of the league's most physical defenders. That makes him particularly tough on Haliburton, listed at a spindly 6-5, 185. Dort took Haliburton out of the game almost entirely when the teams met on Dec. 26 in Indianapolis and Haliburton scored just four points on 2-of-6 shooting in the Pacers' 120-114 loss. On March 29, the Pacers were more intentional about screening Dort and Haliburton had 18 points, hitting 4-of-9 3-pointers, but he had just three assists and the Pacers lost 132-111. If Haliburton can't get out of Dort's grasp the Pacers are going to have a hard time making the offense work. — Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar MUSSATTO: Mark Daigneault's hometown always believed in Thunder coach, long before NBA Finals run All times are Central Advertisement This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA Finals: Indiana Pacers vs OKC Thunder matchups we're watching most
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
NBA Finals: Pacers vs. OKC Thunder matchup I'm watching the closest
The 2025 NBA Finals tip off Thursday night with Game 1 between the Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City. We asked USA Today Sports Network's two beat writers who cover their respective teams the most — IndyStar's Dustin Dopirak and Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman — what matchup they'll be focused on most as the key to which team will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The primary problem Tyrese Haliburton has had to find a solution for over the past two seasons has been top-level defenders who face-guard him and devote all of their attention to keeping the ball out of his hands or giving him no space to operate when he gets it. Early in the season he more than once took the approach of simply sitting back, taking a top-level defender out of the equation and allowing his teammates to play 4-on-4, but he's found that more often than not, that leads to defeat. So he and the Pacers have had to scheme ways to peel those defenders off Haliburton with on- or off-ball screening so that he can get the ball going downhill with space to function. The best defenders don't make that easy, however, and no one makes it harder than Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort. Dort was named first-team All-Defense this year and being defended by him is such a harrowing experience that it has earned the nickname "The Dorture Chamber." At 6-4, 220 pounds, he's built like a linebacker and he's one of the league's most physical defenders. That makes him particularly tough on Haliburton, listed at a spindly 6-5, 185. Dort took Haliburton out of the game almost entirely when the teams met on Dec. 26 in Indianapolis and Haliburton scored just four points on 2-of-6 shooting in the Pacers' 120-114 loss. On March 29, the Pacers were more intentional about screening Dort and Haliburton had 18 points, hitting 4-of-9 3-pointers, but he had just three assists and the Pacers lost 132-111. If Haliburton can't get out of Dort's grasp the Pacers are going to have a hard time making the offense work. — Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar So far, Siakam has been capable of swinging a series to his versatile whims. His cross-matching and lengthy ways proved consistent versus the Knicks, in large part what stuck with the voters who deemed him worthy of East finals MVP. He's a positional problem, able to create off the dribble versus traditional big men and body smaller forwards. Consider Williams the mismatch for the mismatch. With a freakishly long wingspan, a stocky torso and his affinity for midrange jumpers, Williams has proved challenging for defenses for much of this run. Not to mention his attributes let him scale up or down to defend anyone from Siakam to Andrew Nembhard to Myles Turner. Let the best forward win. — Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
USA Today
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tyrese Haliburton embraced Knicks villain arc with trolling East finals video
Tyrese Haliburton embraced Knicks villain arc with trolling East finals video From the start of the Indiana Pacers' battle with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, it was abundantly clear that "underrated" Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton wanted to wholeheartedly embrace being the latest Knicks playoff villain. He wouldn't have done Reggie Miller's infamous choke sign during a wild Game 1 victory if this weren't the case. After the Pacers eliminated the Knicks on Saturday night to advance to their first NBA Finals in 25 years, Haliburton reveled in the moment. Yes, he might not have won East finals MVP. That honor belongs to the exceptional Pascal Siakam. But Haliburton was still incredible throughout the entire series. Outside of a forgettable Game 5 performance, Haliburton was consistently in control, victimizing the Knicks at his own pace and his own tempo at will. Throw in Haliburton's trademark charisma and fire, and it'd likely be quite challenging for New York fans (including Ben Stiller) not to hate him at this point. By the series' end, Haliburon looked like a top-10 NBA player AND he probably cemented himself as the Knicks' new lead antagonist. Both of those things are more than worthy accomplishments. On Sunday afternoon, Haliburton piled on the Knicks' misery. He shared an East finals highlight video on his X profile, showcasing some of his personal contributions during the series while using 50 Cent's "I Get Money" as the background music. In case you're unfamiliar with the melody, do you know the key lyrics featured prominently in the song (and Haliburton's video)? (Ahem) "I run New York!" Phew. Warning: NSFW language in the video below If anyone was still unsure, Pacers vs. Knicks is back as one of the NBA's most heated rivalries. And it sure seems like Haliburton is doing everything in his power to stoke the fires.
