Latest news with #NikolaTopic
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunder Could Get Even Scarier Next Season By Adding Young Serbian Star
The Oklahoma City Thunder are already one of the most terrifying young teams in the NBA, but next season, they might become downright unstoppable. That's because Serbian phenom Nikola Topic, the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is set to make his long-awaited debut next season after recovering from a torn ACL. For the rest of the league, the scariest part is this: OKC got him with a pick from the 2019 Russell Westbrook trade. Sam Presti is still winning that deal six years later. Advertisement Topic, a 6-foot-6 playmaking guard, was once projected to go as high as No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. CBS Sports and ESPN both had him ranked in the top five before the knee injury caused his draft stock to slide. While several teams got cold feet, the Thunder saw value and snatched him at No. 12, a classic Presti move. He wasn't needed to contribute immediately, but he now enters the 2025-26 season joining a fully formed contender. What makes the addition of Topic so intriguing is that he's not joining a rebuilding team, but one that could already be in the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just won MVP. Jalen Williams is blossoming into an All-Star. Chet Holmgren is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Lu Dort is arguably the best perimeter defender in the league. Advertisement And the Thunder have a war chest of draft capital and depth, and now, another blue-chip prospect. Topic brings a different dynamic to OKC. In his best season in the Adriatic League (ABA) with Mega Basket during the 2023-24 campaign, he averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 51.5% from the field and 33.8% from three. He was the youngest player in league history to lead the ABA in assists, all while displaying advanced pick-and-roll vision, deceptive speed, and outstanding composure for a teenager. He also played briefly for Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague before his injury, where he showed flashes against top-tier competition, including a 17-point, 5-assist performance against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Even in limited minutes, scouts raved about his control of the pace and ability to make advanced reads. Advertisement His combination of size, IQ, and passing ability has drawn comparisons to a young Goran Dragic with a better frame. Assuming he returns healthy, Topic will give OKC the luxury of another oversized guard who can create for others and take pressure off SGA in ball-handling duties. He may come off the bench early, but his long-term potential suggests he'll be a major contributor as he adjusts to the NBA speed. Sam Presti's gamble may become a masterstroke. With Topic waiting in the wings, the Thunder could be adding a top-5-level talent without giving up a single asset. That's how dynasties are built by stockpiling talent before the league realizes what's coming. Next year, when the Thunder unleash Nikola Topic alongside their MVP and a loaded roster, don't say you weren't warned. The West should be very afraid. Related: Oklahoma City Thunder Currently Hold 32 NBA Draft Picks Until 2031
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Playoffs Western Conference Game 1 Finals: Minnesota Timberwolves vs OKC Thunder Preview - Starting Lineups, Injury Reports, Streaming Details, and More
Thunder vs Timberwolves Game 1 FInals (Image via Getty) The 2025 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Game 1 kicks off with a thrilling showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 1 takes place on Tuesday, May 20, at 8:30 PM Eastern Time (7:30 PM Central Time) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. How to watch NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 1: TV and streaming options Fans have multiple ways to catch the action live: - TV Broadcast: ESPN (Games 1, 2, 4, 5, 7) and ABC (Game 3) - Streaming Services: - DirecTV Stream (ESPN & ABC included) - FuboTV (Free trial available) - Sling TV (ESPN access with select packages) These platforms offer free trials, making it easy for cord-cutters to watch without a long-term commitment. NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 1: Injury updates for both teams Both teams enter Game 1 in strong health, with minimal roster concerns: Team Player Status Oklahoma City Thunder Nikola Topic (Rookie) Out (Torn ACL) Minnesota Timberwolves Entire roster Fully healthy The Thunder's absence of Topic, who has been sidelined since before the draft, does not affect their rotation significantly. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have no injuries, giving them a full-strength lineup. NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 1: Series outlook and key players The Thunder, the West's No. 1 seed, are riding high after a dominant Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets (125-93), led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 's 35-point performance. Their strong defense and offensive firepower make them a tough opponent. On the other side, the No. 6 seed Timberwolves have been a surprise force, sweeping the Golden State Warriors in five games. Anthony Edwards has been the driving force, and Minnesota aims for its first-ever NBA Finals appearance. Key factors to watch: - Thunder's offensive efficiency – Can they maintain their high-scoring momentum? - Timberwolves ' defense – Will their physical play disrupt OKC's rhythm? - Star performances – Edwards vs. Gilgeous-Alexander could decide the series. NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 1 details at a glance - Date & Time: May 20, 2025, 8:30 PM ET (7:30 PM CT) - Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City - TV: ESPN - Streaming: DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Sling TV - Injury Report: Only Topic (Thunder) out; Timberwolves at full strength This series promises high-intensity basketball, with Game 1 setting the tone for a potential classic. Fans won't want to miss the opening clash between two of the West's best teams. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder final injury report for Game 6 - Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander play tonight? (May 15, 2025)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , the Oklahoma City Thunder's star guard and presumptive 2025 NBA MVP , is expected to be available and play in Game 6 against the on May 15, 2025. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Status for Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets (May 15, 2025) Ahead of the pivotal matchup, there was no indication of injury or rest for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was not listed on the Thunder's injury report, making him fully available to suit up for this crucial playoff game. This was a significant relief for Oklahoma City, as his presence has been vital to the team's postseason success. The only Thunder player ruled out for Game 6 was Nikola Topic, who has been sidelined with a knee injury and has yet to make his debut for the team. Impact and Expectations from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 6 (May 15, 2025) Gilgeous-Alexander has been the driving force for the Thunder throughout the series, averaging 28.2 points per game against Denver, and coming off a 31-point, 7-assist performance in Game 5 that helped Oklahoma City take a 3-2 series lead. Analysts and oddsmakers expected him to log heavy minutes and play a central role in Game 6, with many projecting him to exceed his rebounding averages and continue to be a major scoring threat. To summarize: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was healthy, available, and played significant minutes for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets on May 15, 2025. His participation was crucial for the Thunder as they looked to close out the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's availability for Game 6 was a game-changer for the Thunder, as his elite scoring and leadership kept Oklahoma City's championship hopes alive. With no injury concerns and another dominant performance expected, SGA's presence on the court gave the Thunder a decisive edge against the Nuggets. Also read: As the series reached its climax, all eyes were on the MVP frontrunner to deliver yet another clutch performance and propel his team to the Western Conference Finals. For Denver, containing him remained the biggest challenge—one that could determine their postseason fate. The stage was set for a thrilling showdown.
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Live updates, highlights for Monday's Game 1
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Live updates, highlights for Monday's Game 1 The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets on Monday for Game 1 of their Round 2 playoff series. Both teams will seek to get the first lead of the series. The Thunder are back in action after over a week off. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in their Round 1 series last weekend and have waited for their next playoff opponent. They've gone nine days between games because of it. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are fresh off a 120-101 Game 7 win over the LA Clippers. The Round 1 series finale happened on Saturday. This means Denver only had one day between playoff series. For live updates and highlights from the Thunder's game against the Nuggets, regularly check back to this post: What channel is Nuggets vs. Thunder game on today? Time, TV schedule TV Channel: TNT, truTV Start time: 8:30 p.m. CT Where to watch Nuggets vs. Thunder on livestream Watch Nuggets vs. Thunder live on SlingTV Nuggets vs. Thunder injury updates Thunder: Nikola Topic (torn ACL) is out. Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II (torn Achilles) is out. Thunder 2025 NBA playoffs schedule
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Full injury report for Monday's Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 matchup
Full injury report for Monday's Nuggets vs. Thunder Game 1 matchup The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Denver Nuggets on Monday for Game 1 of their Round 2 playoff series. Both teams will seek to get the first lead of the series. The Thunder are back in action after over a week off. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in their Round 1 series last weekend and have waited for their next playoff opponent. They've gone nine days between games because of it. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are fresh off a 120-101 Game 7 win over the LA Clippers. The Round 1 series finale happened on Saturday. This means Denver only had one day between playoff series. Both teams are about as healthy as you could hope for. The Thunder will only be without Nikola Topic (torn ACL). Meanwhile, the Nuggets will only be without DaRon Holmes II (torn Achilles). Both rookies have missed the entire season. Tipoff from Oklahoma City is set for 8:30 p.m. CT.
