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Yahoo
5 hours ago
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Inside the Comeback: How the Pacers pulled off a stunner in Game 1 of the NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots a 3-pointer against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) looks up at the hoop during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday, June 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Julio Cortez/Pool Photo via AP) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7), Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) reach for the ball during Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7), Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) reach for the ball during Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots a 3-pointer against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) looks up at the hoop during the second half in Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday, June 6, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Julio Cortez/Pool Photo via AP) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7), Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) reach for the ball during Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (Matthew Stockman/Pool Photo via AP) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The game plan was the obvious one. Just chip away, the Indiana Pacers said, because there was no other option that would have made any sense at that point. They were down by 15 with 9:42 remaining. They were turning the ball over about once every three possessions, couldn't stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and had the Oklahoma City crowd in a deafening fury. Advertisement 'We just said, 'Hey, let's just keep chipping away at the rock,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'Got to keep pounding the rock and just chip away and hang in.' With 0.3 seconds left, there was no more rock left to pound. Not for Game 1, anyway. Tyrese Haliburton scored with that much time left and the Pacers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 in the opener of this year's NBA Finals on Thursday night. A look inside the comeback: The run The Pacers outscored the Thunder 32-16 in that final 9:42, with only six players getting used for those final minutes and all of them figuring into the scoring column. Advertisement Obi Toppin took two shots. Both were 3-pointers. Both connected. Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard each scored eight points to lead Indiana during the flurry. Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with four rebounds in that stretch. And Haliburton provided the exclamation point with the jumper at the end. 'I've worked my entire life to get to this stage, so there's no holding back,' Turner said. The collapse The Thunder shot 4 for 16 in that closing stretch. Gilgeous-Alexander was 2 for 4; everyone else on the Thunder combined to shoot 2 for 12. The MVP had 10 points; everyone else on the Thunder combined for six. Advertisement The reasons for all that? 'A little bit of everything,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'They made some plays. On some of those plays they made some shots. They got a couple that you wish you'd get back. We had bonus fouls, which were costly. Then offensively we didn't move the scoreboard as well as we could have. So you just add all that up and that's how you get that sort of comeback.' The reactions There was no choke sign from Haliburton, no celebratory dance, just a bunch of hugs with teammates and a big hug with his father John Haliburton in the hallway near the Pacers' locker room afterward. Advertisement The Pacers, coach Rick Carlisle said, haven't engaged in a ton of raucous postgame victory laps during this playoff run. 'This is going to be a long journey and a lot going on,' Carlisle said. 'So, we're just going to have to keep our eye on the ball and keep focusing on one another.' The big plays Here were some of the key moments: — Carlisle subbed in five new players — Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Toppin and Turner — with 9:42 left and Indiana trailing 94-79. — Turner hits a 3-pointer with 7:47 left, cutting the lead to 96-88 and forcing an OKC time-out. — Toppin and Turner made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions (Turner keeping the second one alive with an offensive rebound) to get Indiana within 98-94 with 6:16 left. Advertisement — Gilgeous-Alexander's two free throws with 2:52 left pushed the Thunder lead to 108-99. Nesmith and Nembhard connected on back-to-back 3s, and Indiana was within thee with 1:59 left. — The Pacers got a stop with 11 seconds left and didn't call time, having taken advantage of a challenge stoppage 11 seconds earlier to map out scenarios. The clock kept running and Haliburton hit the winner with 0.3 seconds left. The final word 'I don't know what you say about it but I know that this group is a resilient group and we don't give up until it's 0.0 on the clock.' — Haliburton. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers commit 19 first-half turnovers in Game 1 of NBA Finals against Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Indiana Pacers started the NBA Finals by making the wrong type of history. The Pacers committed 19 turnovers in the first half of Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. It was the highest number of turnovers by a team before halftime of a postseason game during the league's digital play-by-play era, which goes back to the 1997 playoffs. Advertisement There has not been a 20-turnover first half in any NBA game since Nov. 17, 2007, when the New Jersey Nets — the franchise that now plays in Brooklyn — had that many in the first two quarters of what became a 91-87 loss to the Miami Heat. The Pacers had nine turnovers in the first quarter, 10 more in the second. But they were only down 57-45 at the half, in part because Oklahoma City had turned the 19 Indiana giveaways into only nine points. Oklahoma City led the NBA this season in turnovers forced, averaging 17.0 per game in the regular season. ___ AP NBA:
Economic Times
8 hours ago
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- Economic Times
How to watch NBA Finals 2025: Thunder vs. Pacers Game 1 TV channel, live stream, odds, and prediction
The 2025 NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 5, with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 at Paycom Center. Coverage is available on ABC and live streaming via fubo. This matchup features two young teams seeking their first NBA title and opens with OKC favored Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and fubo. Both teams seek their first NBA championship (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The 2025 NBA Finals tip off Thursday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder face the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 at Paycom Center. The game starts at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ABC. Fans can also stream the game via fubo (free trial available).The Thunder, led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , enter the Finals after an impressive postseason. They finished the regular season with a league-best 68 wins and hold a 12-4 record through the playoffs. Oklahoma City reached the Finals by defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets in seven games and eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves in read: Orlando Magic reveal new logo and uniforms for 2025–26 NBA season The Pacers, also 12-4 in the postseason, reached their first NBA Finals by overcoming higher-seeded opponents. Indiana beat the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round and outlasted the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. While they enter as underdogs, the Pacers have proven resilient throughout the to bet365, the Thunder are 9.5-point favorites for Game 1, with the over/under set at 230 total points. Oklahoma City has dominated at home during the postseason, winning eight of nine games and outscoring opponents by a combined 221 points. Only one of those victories was by single this performance, the spread reflects the Thunder's strength on home court. Indiana, while competitive on the road, lost both of its away games this postseason by double digits. Oklahoma City's home dominance and playoff momentum suggest a favorable outcome in Game 1. Pick: Thunder -9.5Recent NBA Finals Game 1 matchups have trended toward low-scoring outcomes. The last five Game 1 point totals were 194, 183, 193, 203, and 199. With both teams fielding young rosters and neither having previous Finals experience, a slow start is likely. Oklahoma City also led the NBA in defensive efficiency during the regular season. Pick: Under 230Also read: NBA finals preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - key matchups and predictions A notable player prop to consider is Indiana forward Aaron Nesmith. The Thunder's defense allows the most corner three-point attempts in the league. Nesmith attempted nearly 37% of his three-pointers from the corners, converting at a 47.2% clip. Oklahoma City's aggressive perimeter defense may create open opportunities in this area. Pick: Nesmith Over 1.5 3-pointers.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Why bettors are avoiding the favored Thunder in the NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts to a foul call during the second half of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), front, celebrates with teammates after Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), front, celebrates with teammates after Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts to a foul call during the second half of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), front, celebrates with teammates after Game 5 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder are such heavy favorites to win the NBA title that many bettors are looking for other wagers instead. Professional bettors, in particular, have searched out player propositions and hit the under on the totals rather than take the Thunder at -700 at BetMGM Sportsbook or -650 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Indiana is listed at +500 at BetMGM and +475 at DraftKings for the NBA Finals that open Thursday. Advertisement 'It's just not enticing to bet a money line or spread,' BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said. 'That number kind of scares you off even if you do like the Pacers. You're like, 'They're +500 for a reason.'' The Thunder have won seven games this postseason by double digits, four by at least 30 points. Oklahoma City is the biggest favorite since Golden State in 2018, according to That Warriors team, led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, was listed at -1075 and swept Cleveland and LeBron James. The Thunder franchise won its only previous title in 1979, when it was in Seattle and known as the SuperSonics. The team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Advertisement CBS SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall said he thinks the Thunder will be pushed much harder by the Pacers, saying he could see the series going seven games. 'I think they're probably going to win the series, but I don't see any value with that sort of price for them,' Marshall said. 'I think there's enough here that Indiana can make it interesting." Maybe give SGA a look For those who don't want to bet $700 at BetMGM or $650 on Oklahoma City to win $100 at DraftKings, they could consider laying money on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for finals MVP. This year's league MVP is the -600 favorite at DraftKings, the largest favorite since the sportsbook began posting odds in 2019, but a little bit of a discount compared to betting on the team. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in the playoffs. 'We know he's going to score 30 points at least every game,' said Johnny Avello, DraftKings race and sports operations director. 'There's one (game) where he might be off a little bit. They still have to win because they're not going to give it to him if they lose the series.' Pacers' dynanic duo Pascal Siakam edged teammate Tyrese Haliburton to win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP when Indiana beat New York, which caused some debate about whether it went to the right player. Haliburton is listed behind Gilgeous-Alexander at DraftKings at +750 for finals MVP and Siakam is next at +1600. Advertisement 'You could pick either guy here,' Avello said. 'Siakam is just playing really well right now. Not that Haliburton's not.' Hitting the road One reason Marshall believed the Pacers can make this a competitive series is that they play so well away from home — and how poorly the Thunder can play outside their comfort zone. Indiana is 6-2 on the road, winning all three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals at top-seeded Cleveland and taking two at Madison Square Garden to eliminate the Knicks. The Thunder are 0-7 against the point spread in road playoff games, but have the home-court advantage. Oklahoma City is favored at BetMGM by 9 1/2 points in Game 1. Advertisement 'It's two different teams at home and on the road,' Marshall said. 'It's pretty stark." Hoping for the Thunder Given that most of the futures money and series betting have been on Oklahoma City, it would seem counterintuitive for a sportsbook to want the Thunder to win the championship. But that's exactly the situation at BetMGM, which has priced the Thunder in a way throughout the season and playoffs to make it worthwhile. 'I don't think they ever got worse than maybe +400 to win it all,' Cipollini said. 'It still has been our best outcome basically from the beginning of the season.' __ AP NBA:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA working on plan for US-vs.-world format at All-Star Game next season, AP source says
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, presents the Michael Jordan Most Valuable Player trophy to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) NBA commissioner Adam Silver is seen on the court prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) NBA commissioner Adam Silver is seen on the court prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, presents the Michael Jordan Most Valuable Player trophy to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) NBA commissioner Adam Silver is seen on the court prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA is working on a plan to turn next season's All-Star Game into a U.S.-vs.-world competition, a person with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday. It remains unclear how the format will work, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league has not made any final determinations. Speaking to Fox Sports 1 earlier Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — who has talked about such a game on multiple occasions — was asked if U.S. vs. the world is possible. Advertisement 'Yes,' Silver said. Silver addressed the idea on March 27 as well at the league's most recent board of governors meeting, when he revealed that the NBA was scrapping the All-Star mini-tournament format that was used this season. At that time, the AP reported that the 2026 game — to be played Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, just past the midpoint of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics — will be moved from its traditional prime-time Sunday night slot to one that starts on Sunday afternoon. That's happening because the game will be aired on NBC under the terms of the new 11-year media rights deals that kick in next season. NBC is also the Olympic broadcaster in the U.S. So, NBC could show Olympic events in the morning and early afternoon, then the All-Star Game, then have prime-time Olympic programming. Advertisement The move comes on the heels of a popular tournament, the 4 Nations Face-off, that essentially took the place of the NHL All-Star Game this year, as well as strong competition at the Paris Olympics, where the Americans won a fifth consecutive gold medal by rallying past Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the semifinals, then topping host France and Victor Wembanyama in the title game — behind a barrage of late 3-pointers from Stephen Curry. 'What better time to feature some form of USA against the world?' Silver said on FS1. 'I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I obviously paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success. ... But also, going back, last summer, our Olympic competition was a huge success.' There is one big challenge regarding any U.S.-vs.-world format. About 70% of NBA players are American, while 30% are international, so it would in theory be easier for an international player to make the All-Star team — if the rosters are the same size. International players, when asked at this year's All-Star Game if they would want a U.S.-vs.-world matchup, sounded enthusiastic. Advertisement 'I would love to. My opinion is that it's more purposeful,' Wembanyama said back in February. 'There's more pride in it. More stakes.' Added Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who's from Greece: 'I would love that. Oh, I would love that. I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that. For sure, I'd take pride in that. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete.' The latest format for the All-Star Game — a four-team, three-game mini-tournament in San Francisco with the first team to 40 points winning each — was a miss. It came after years of the league asking players for a more competitive game. The 211-186 final score at Indianapolis in 2024 was the last straw, and the league — for one year, anyway — thought the tournament was the answer. ___ AP NBA:
