Latest news with #LarryO'BrienChampionshipTrophy
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA Finals prediction: Who will win between the Pacers and Thunder?
2025 NBA Finals prediction: Who will win between the Pacers and Thunder? The 2025 NBA Finals are set, as the Indiana Pacers will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. It's hard to predict how this series will go exactly, as Oklahoma City and Indiana boast two of the best rosters in the entire league. Whereas the Thunder have MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pacers have a red-hot Tyrese Haliburton. Oklahoma City compliments SGA with superstars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, while Indiana supports Haliburton with excellent players like Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin. These two teams feel pretty even with each other, although Oklahoma City will enter this year's NBA Finals with more rest. Indiana could ride its hot hand after eliminating the New York Knicks in six games. Both arenas are treacherous to play in, and both teams have the depth needed to go the distance in a seven-game series. Will the Thunder cement Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP season with a championship? The team will need its superstar to really lead the pace on offense and its stonewall defense to do its part, as the Pacers have flashed so many ways to score in their playoff run. It's that Indiana offense's completeness that really wows you, even though Oklahoma City has so much star power and have plenty of ways to find the basket, too. We're going to guess this series goes the full seven games, and that Haliburton and the Pacers ultimately emerge victorious on the power of their offensive depth and the general momentum they've built in this playoff run to give the franchise its first proper NBA title. Maybe it's controversial with how good the Thunder has been this season, but Pacers in 7.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mark Daigneault calls Thunder players ‘idiots' during hilarious WCF speech
The post Mark Daigneault calls Thunder players 'idiots' during hilarious WCF speech appeared first on ClutchPoints. After a series filled with ups, downs, and historic performances, the Oklahoma City Thunder have officially become the Western Conference Champions, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 in a pivotal Game 5 at the Paycom Center. Advertisement The Thunder threw more at the T-Wolves than they could handle, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned in another MVP-caliber performance, and in the end, Mark Daigneault was given his flowers for a job well done. After the final results were tallied, Daigneault was asked what it meant to take his Thunder to the NBA finals, with the head coach noting that he's incredibly proud of his players… at least until they started throwing towels at him Nick Gallo style, as noted by Dailey Thunder's Brandon Rahbar. 'These guys are uncommon. They do everything right,' Daigneault declared. 'They're high character… they're idiots.' Now granted, did Daigneault really think he would get his team to the NBA Finals without being awarded with a few towels and a backward cap for his troubles? To this Thunder team, that's the highest compliment a coach, player, or broadcaster can receive. Advertisement With the Western Conference locked up, the Thunder now have to wait and see who will join them in the NBA Finals, as the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are still duking it out in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Pacers secure the win in Game 5, then all that will be left to do for the NBA to schedule how the series will shake out, but if the Knicks fight back, taking the game to six or even seven, the Thunder may once again get to take an extended break as they recoup and reload for their first finals trip since 2012. After taking care of the Memphis Grizzlies in four games back in April, the Thunder lost Game 1 to the Denver Nuggets 121-119. If they get an extended break before the NBA Finals, they may again have to fight off the rust to ensure they bring back the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the first time in franchise history
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Playoff bracket through April 20– Everything you need to know ahead of game 2
NBA Playoff. Image via: Key Highlights: Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler stun Rockets in Game 1 as Warriors steal early momentum. Ty Jerome shines in playoff debut, powering Cavs to dominant win over Miami. Thunder dismantle Grizzlies by 51 points in one of the most lopsided Game 1 wins ever. The 2025 NBA Playoffs are off to a thrilling start, with Game 1 results setting the tone for an intense postseason. Steph Curry's historic performance for the Golden State Warriors and the Celtics and Cavs dominating at home have given fans a glimpse of standout moments. Certainly, with upsets, blowouts, and playoff drama brewing, the road to the NBA Finals is officially heating up across both conferences. Here is the NBA Playoff bracket through April 20 and everything you need to know ahead of the highly anticipated showdowns. NBA Playoff bracket so far (April 20) Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo All 16 NBA teams in the Playoffs are aiming for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. As game 1 for all the teams ended, here is the Playoff bracket and results so far. Western Conference Matchups Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies Series score: OKC leads 1-0 The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, led by rising stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has taken an early advantage over the 8th-seeded Grizzlies. The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 131-80 in Game 1 of their playoff matchup on Sunday. Aaron Wiggins came off the bench with 21 points, while Jalen Williams added 20. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a quiet night with 15 points, but Chet Holmgren made up for it with 19 points and 10 rebounds. OKC dominated in transition, outscoring Memphis 27-5 on fast breaks and forcing 24 turnovers. Marvin Bagley III and Ja Morant each scored 17 for Memphis, with Bagley hitting a wild buzzer-beater to end the third. Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans Series score: Denver leads 1-0 Led by MVP-caliber center Nikola Jokić, the Denver Nuggets made a statement in Game Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets with 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 minutes of action in the Nuggets' 144-119 win against the Pelicans. Jokić scored 38 points. Zion Williamson added 28 but failed to secure the win. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series score: Timberwolves lead 1-0 The Minnesota Timberwolves made a statement with a 117-95 blowout win over the Lakers in Game 1 of their first-round series. Luka Dončić came out firing in his Lakers playoff debut, scoring 16 points in the first quarter on 5-of-10 shooting. But once he cooled off, the rest of the team couldn't keep up. While it's just one game, the Lakers looked outmatched and will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid another early playoff exit. Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors Series score: Warriors lead 1-0 In a stunning Game 1 result, the seventh-seeded Warriors, powered by Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, took down the higher-seeded Rockets. Curry led the team with 31 points, followed by Butler's 25. Eastern Conference Matchups Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat Series score: Cavaliers lead 1-0 The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, took Game 1 convincingly. Ty Jerome had to wait five long years for his first taste of NBA playoff action and when the moment finally arrived, he didn't waste it. On Sunday night, Jerome erupted for 28 points, including 16 in a dominant fourth quarter, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a convincing 121-100 win over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Series score: Pacers lead 1-0 The Indiana Pacers surprised many by taking the opener. The Milwaukee Bucks are now trailing despite having Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster. Still, the Greek Freak made a stunning show, adding 36 points in the game, but the Pacers had the last laugh as they secured a 117-98 win to lead by 1. New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons Series score: Knicks lead 1-0 The New York Knicks protected their home court behind the energy of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. The Pistons, still developing their young core, have a tough task ahead. The Knicks secured a 123-112 victory over the Pistons. Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Series score: Celtics lead 1-0 The Boston Celtics, one of the major superpowers in the league, looked dominant in their opener, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way. In the playoff round 1, game 1, the Celtics have secured a stunning 103-86 victory over the Orlando Magic, one of the league's pleasant surprises this season, and will try to make adjustments heading into Game 2. Also Read: 13-time champion Phil Jackson calls out NBA for playing on Easter Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India , including match schedules , team squads , points table and IPL live score for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Don't miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap .
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder send message in Game 1 annihilation of Grizzlies. OKC is ready to win a title now.
Thunder send message in Game 1 annihilation of Grizzlies. OKC is ready to win a title now. Show Caption Hide Caption Do the Thunder have what it takes to reach the Finals? Oklahoma City has the pieces—but do they have the experience to win three playoff series? Don't give the Oklahoma City Thunder the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy yet. It's just Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference series. But what a game it was for the Thunder. The performance – a dominating 131-80 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday – was befitting of a team ready to make a championship run. The Thunder were masterful offensively and defensively, The Grizzlies were not ready to handle Oklahoma City's talent, depth, intensity, speed, ball movement and commitment to defend. It was a message the Thunder needed and wanted to send. OKC VS. MEMPHIS GAME 1: Thunder make NBA history in blowout of Grizzlies ANALYSIS: Lakers know what they must do to rebound from loss to Timberwolves. Can they do it? If one Jalen Williams (20 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals) wasn't enough, the Thunder have a Jaylin Williams (nine points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks) who does damage, too. Every Thunder starter scored at least 12 points, led by Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren (19 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks), MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 points, five assists, two blocks) and Isaiah Hartenstein (14 points, eight rebounds, five assists). The Thunder trailed 9-8 with 6:55 left in the first quarter, and once the Thunder went ahead 11-9, it was the beginning of the annihilation. The Thunder led 41-22, 55-22, 78-36, 99-48 and 122-67. At one point in the third quarter, the Thunder outscored the Grizzlies 22-0 in fastbreak points, were 37-for-68 from the field and 13-for-32 on 3-pointers and had 27 assists on 38 made field goals – and the Grizzlies were 21-for-63 from the field and 3-for-22 on 3s. There's no more to be said about Game 1. The Thunder were the best team in the NBA this season – a franchise-record 68 victories, and they were No. 1 defensively, No. 3 offensively (the only team to finish in the top three in both categories) and No. 1 in net rating, outscoring opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions. It was the second-best net rating in NBA history – behind the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. The other four teams in the top five all won titles. Thunder executive vice president Sam Presti's goal is to build a team that can win at a high level for several seasons. He has that team now with Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams. Presti has never won Executive of the Year, and that's a problem for other league executives who vote for the award. He is the best team-builder in the league – excellent in the draft, free agency and trades. Now, it's about winning a title. The Thunder lost in the second round last season, and that's all the majority of the group has on its postseason résumé: one first-round series win. Among the West playoff teams, the Thunder have the second-fewest combined games of playoff experience. Jumping from that point to NBA championship is not an easy leap, but this Thunder squad has the goods to do it. The Thunder will be tested once they dispatch Memphis. Denver or the Clippers await in the second round and then either the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. If Game 1 is the indicator, the Thunder are more than ready for the challenge. That Larry O'Brien Trophy gets a little closer with each victory.
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA playoff storylines: Who can dethrone the Celtics?
2025 NBA playoff storylines: Who can dethrone the Celtics? Show Caption Hide Caption NBA play-in predictions: Magic, Heat, Warriors, Grizzlies, Bulls For The Hoopers crew debate which teams will make it into the NBA play-in games. The NBA postseason is a grind, essentially a two-month micro season during which things can change very quickly. It's often the consistent teams, or the ones that catch fire and get hot or the ones carried by stars that end up with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. This season, there is no shortage of stars, with a pair of Most Valuable Player candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets carrying their teams. The Los Angeles Lakers will be entering their first playoffs of the LeBron James-Luka Dončić era. But, can anyone catch the defending champion Boston Celtics? Here are nine storylines to watch headed into the 2025 NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference Do the Celtics have what it takes to repeat? In terms of roster construction, the answer is unequivocally yes; this is essentially the same group that rolled through last postseason. Boston closed the season on a 29-6 run since Jan. 29. The Celtics were able to stagger the way they rested players in the final weeks. This team has a clear identity and shooters to space the floor. They have as good a chance as any to be the first team to repeat since the Warriors did seven years ago. Will the Cavaliers, Knicks, or anyone else present a legitimate challenge? This one feels like it's up to the Cavs. The Celtics swept the Knicks in the four games they played this season, by an average margin of 16.3 points. The Pacers were hot down the stretch, but Indiana struggles on the glass. The Bucks, who closed the season on an eight-game winning streak, may get Damian Lillard (deep vein thrombosis) back during the postseason, so they'd be a team to watch. Cleveland, meanwhile, split its four games with Boston, and all were close. The Cavs (first in the NBA in offensive rating; 121.0) have the spacing and offensive firepower to match Boston's (second; 119.5). Will any Play-In team in the East make a deep run? Frankly, it's tough to see any team posing a real threat. But if one were to pull it off, it would be the Magic, who finished the season strong, and tied for the NBA's top defensive rating over the last 15 games, allowing 108.1 points per 100 possessions. As crazy as it sounds, there are times when Paolo Banchero almost looks like a young LeBron James, but Orlando's offense simply stagnates too much. The Magic struggle to hit 3s (ranking dead last in 3-point makes per game at 11.2, and percentage at 31.8%), all of which makes it tough to see Orlando outscoring Boston or Cleveland in the first round. How will the up-and-coming Pistons fare after breakthrough season? Despite winning 44 games, 30 more than they did last season, the Pistons may still be a year or two from seriously contending for a conference championship. Detroit was decidedly average on offense, ranking 14th in rating (114.6). The team's reliance on Cade Cunningham for shot making could allow the East's better defenses to clamp up on him, and make other Pistons players beat them. Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley need to step up. Western Conference Are the Thunder ready to take the next steps? Best record in the NBA (68-14). MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals per game). One of two teams to finish in the top five in offensive and defensive rating and the only team in the top three in both. Talent throughout the rotation with seven players averaging double-figures (SGA, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Isaiah Hartenstein). Well coached (Mark Daigneault and staff). But the big question facing the Thunder: Can this iteration, which has just one playoff series victory and has not advanced beyond the conference semifinals, make the leap to the NBA Finals and NBA champion? Does LeBron James have a deep run left, alongside Luka Doncic? The Lakers were 20-17 in mid-January and were one of the best teams in the league the rest of the season, going 30-15 while acquiring Luka Doncic just before the trade deadline. The Lakers have flaws with limited versatility. Still, it's LeBron James and Doncic and a solid supporting cast. The Lakers improved defensively, and Doncic provides an offensive dimension that few players possess. How many more deep playoff runs does the 40-year-old James have? And is Doncic just the player to help him get there? A lot is at stake for the Nuggets The Nuggets are two seasons removed from winning a title, but more pressing: they are about a week from firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. To call it unusual timing is an understatement. A lot is at stake. Ownership is intent on winning another championship with All-NBA center Nikola Jokić playing like an MVP. He became the third player to average a triple-double in a season (29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists per game) and the first player to finish in the top three in points, rebounds and assists in the same season. Interim coach David Adelman also is auditioning for the full-time gig. How much can Jimmy Butler help the Warriors? There's no question Jimmy Butler, the Warriors' all-in trade deadline acquisition, made Golden State better offensively and defensively. The Warriors were flailing at 25-26 on Feb. 6 and had to go 23-8 just to get the seventh seed and a spot in the play-in game. An offense led by Steph Curry and Butler and a defense led by Draymond Green and Butler is not your typical No. 7 seed. Not with that championship pedigree. Tuesday night's play-in victory over the Memphis Grizzlies — in which Butler poured in a game-high 38 points — proved just how much value he can bring. The West is loaded Minnesota is the No. 6 seed — after reaching the West finals last season. The fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers put together an under-the-radar 50-win season. The Grizzlies were in second place at the midway point of the season, but finished eighth. Then, there's Houston, the No. 2 seed. The Rockets won 52 games, the most the franchise has won since 2019, and they almost are overlooked despite a tremendous season. Whoever advances to the Finals from the West needs to beat quality team after quality team after quality team.
