Latest news with #Pacers-ThunderNBAFinals
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NCAA Reacts to Major Dick Vitale News on Monday
NCAA Reacts to Major Dick Vitale News on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Monday marks the 86th birthday of legendary broadcaster and TV personality Dick Vitale, who has overcome numerous challenges to achieve a truly iconic career in the basketball world. Advertisement 'Yes, hello 86! Today I celebrate my birthday—wow, only 14 years from 100! When I walk into @DukeMBB to be the first @espn announcer to call a game at 100… as Francis Albert Sinatra sang: 'Young at Heart',' Vitale posted on X. In celebration of his milestone birthday, ESPN announced that on November 4, the Texas Longhorns and Duke Blue Devils will face off in a regular-season matchup officially titled the Dick Vitale Invitational—marking the inaugural edition of what is set to become a prestigious annual event. Shortly after the announcement, the NCAA highlighted the news and shared its own reaction to the tribute, recognizing the significance of two powerhouse programs participating in a game honoring one of college basketball's most beloved figures. "Marquee early-season matchup," NCAA posted. "Texas and Duke will meet in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational." The game will be played in Charlotte, North Carolina, effectively making it a home game for the Blue Devils—one of the programs Vitale has become synonymous with during his decades of calling games for ESPN. Advertisement In recent years, Vitale has faced multiple battles with cancer, each time defying the odds and emerging victorious. This past season, after some time away from the mic, he made a triumphant return to broadcasting alongside longtime colleagues. ESPN college basketball analyst Dick VitaleEvert Nelson / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In May, Vitale shared the uplifting news that he remains cancer-free and affirmed his full intention to continue calling games for ESPN—a network he's been a part of for nearly 50 years. Related: Dick Vitale Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365: Claim $150 NBA Finals Promo For Pacers-Thunder
The bet365 bonus code WEEK365 will score new players a $150 guaranteed bonus for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder on Thursday night. The bet365 bonus code WEEK365 will score new players a $150 guaranteed bonus for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder on Thursday night. bet365 is running one of the most productive welcome offers on the market, and you can claim one of the offers today by signing up with the bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365. This promo is available just in time for tipoff of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and the Thunder. Register with the code today and make your choice between a $150 bonus bet-and-get or a $1,000 first bet safety net. The offer you choose will be applied to the first cash wager you place on the big game tonight. bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365 For Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals Set yourself up for a big payday by registering with the bet365 bonus code and betting on Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight. This matchup between the Pacers and the Thunder features two of the more exciting, fast-paced teams in the league, so it's a great opportunity for new bettors to get started. Once your first bet is locked in, the sportsbook will apply your choice of welcome offer to that qualifying wager. There are two possible deals you can choose from. The first is for veteran bettors or those who are looking to make a substantial wager tonight. For this type of bettor, bet365 has a $1,000 first bet safety net. The offer allows you to wager up to that max on an NBA market and if that bet happens to fail, you will get the original stake back in bonus bets. For instance, let's say that you wager something like $350 on Oklahoma City to win outright. If the Pacers end up shocking the NBA and winning Game 1, bet365 will then send you $350 in bonus bets to make up for losing your bet. The other option you have is a "bet $5, get $150 bonus" deal. This choice could be for players making their first bet ever or someone who just can't decide on what market to play. Any wager of $5 or more, win or lose, will automatically release the bonus back to your account. Pacers-Thunder Same Game Parlay Offers Your betting options go far beyond the welcome offer with bet365 bonus code WEEK365. As soon as you sign up and secure your account, check out the in-app choices the sportsbook has for tonight's game. Here you will find early payout and profit boost deals, plus pre-boosted same game parlays. Download the app to find these options right now: Chet Holmgren 20+ points, 7+ rebounds and over 1.5 blocks (was +350, boosted to +450) Tyrese Haliburton, Luguentz Dort, Aaron Nesmith and Jalen Williams EACH to have 2+ threes made (was +425, boosted to +500) Jalen Williams and Pascal Siakam EACH to have 20+ points and 7+ rebounds (was +1000, boosted to +1100) Pacers moneyline, Tyrese Haliburton 20+ points and 10+ assists (was +1400, boosted to +1600) You can also use the early payout promotion to win your moneyline wager before the game even ends. Pick the Pacers or Thunder "to win" and cash your bet if that team goes up by 20 or more points in any quarter. Steps to Applying bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365 Follow the sportsbook's directions during your application process on how to fill out all of your personal information and where to enter the bet365 bonus code. Be sure to include the following details: Legal name Age Home address Location settings turned on your phone Cash deposit to initiate your account Bank account information bet365 will make your bonus bets available for a full seven (7) days. After this time, all unused bets will expire. Bonuses do not have to be combined on a single wager and can be spread throughout markets. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals
Charles Barkley Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA Finals are set to begin Thursday night between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are heavy favorites at minus-650. Advertisement Ahead of the series, NBA legend Charles Barkley—who recently wrapped up an historic run with TNT alongside his "Inside the NBA" crew Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith (all moving to ESPN next year)—shared his thoughts during an appearance on Sirius XM's NBA Radio Interviews on Monday. Barkley remains very confident that the Thunder are destined to be champions, highlighting their defense as one of the best he's ever seen. "I think it's an all-time defensive team. In my opinion, I think they're the best defensive team—I'd put them up there with the Bulls, the Bad Boy Pistons," Barkley said. "You've got to give Sam Presti some credit. He went out and got Caruso and Hartenstein... and now they've got a really, really good team. You've got to give them their flowers, I think they will finish this thing off. But if they win this thing... you gotta say man, they're pretty special." 11-time NBA All-Star and "Inside the NBA" host Charles Terada-Imagn Images Barkley has been backing the Thunder since the start of the playoffs, and they've given him no reason to jump off that train that's been rolling all season long. Advertisement However, these were his first comments on the specific matchup following the Pacers' victory over the New York Knicks over the weekend, and now that the showdown is set, he hasn't wavered one bit. Oklahoma City finished the regular season with a league-best 68-14 overall record, and while the Denver Nuggets gave them a scare and pushed them to seven games in the second round, they won Game 7 by 32 points. They swept their first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies and just got done beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. If they can defeat the Pacers, it would mark the Thunder's first NBA championship since relocating from Seattle—where they were formerly known as the SuperSonics—to Oklahoma City in 2008. Advertisement Related: Paul Pierce Predicts Winner of Pacers–Thunder NBA Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shaquille O'Neal Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals
Shaquille O'Neal Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NBA Finals are now set, and with Game 1 tipping off Thursday night on ABC, anticipation is building as the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers look to pull off a major upset against the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the regular season with a league-best 68–14 record. Advertisement The odds are certainly stacked against Indiana, who enter the series as plus-650 underdogs, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. That said, the Pacers have embraced the underdog role all postseason. Aside from their first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, they've been doubted in each series—yet beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and the New York Knicks in six. Now, with Game 1 just days away, NBA legend and Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast and shared his prediction for the Finals. While he appears to be leaning toward OKC, he suggested it might be a lot more competitive than some expect. 'I think it's going to be an interesting Finals... Now you've got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who's the best player in the league, and you've got Tyrese Haliburton on the other side... I think it's gonna be very exciting," O'Neal said. "I think it'll either be a sweep or a close series—OKC wins 4–2.' He continued, 'I think it's gonna be fun to watch. You've got two young teams... but right now I think OKC has the nod. But Indiana's not gonna quit.' NBA analyst and former player Shaquille O'Neal. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images This season, the Pacers and Thunder faced off twice—and both times, it was Oklahoma City who came out on top in high-scoring matchups. The Thunder won 120–114 on December 26, and their second meeting ended in blowout fashion, with OKC defeating Indiana 132–111 to sweep the season series. Advertisement Oklahoma City enters Game 1 as 9 1/2-point favorites on their home floor. Regardless of the outcome, history is set to be made, as neither the Pacers nor the Thunder have ever won an NBA championship. One of these franchises will be crowned for the first time. Related: Charles Barkley Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beyond The Stands (Pacers reach the NBA Finals with JJ)
Pacers pregame/postgame TV host and sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson joined Rick Semmler on Beyond The Stands to talk Pacers basketball. The former WTWO weekend sports anchor previewed the upcoming Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals. JJ gave his keys to the series for the Blue and Gold to win it all. He also gave fans a look into the Thunder and how good they are. JJ discussed how the NBA Finals stage might bring Tyrese Haliburton the respect he deserves. Another topic that was addressed is the fact that the national media is saying this NBA Finals isn't good for the league, with two small-market teams in it. JJ had some candid remarks about that topic. Plus, he gave his thoughts on what an NBA Championship would mean to the state of Indiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
