Latest news with #Shai-GilgeousAlexander
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
NBA Finals: Every player making their debut in Pacers vs Thunder this week
The NBA Finals begin tomorrow, with a high-stakes clash between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. This is the Thunder's first finals outing ever since they lost the 2012 season to the Miami Heat. For the Pacers, this will be their first time in the finals court following Reggie Miller's time in 2000. Putting both teams together, only four players have played a Finals game before. Out of these, only three have won championships. The swathe of fresh talent being pushed from both sides is bound to add more intrigue to what has already been an interesting matchup this time around. Read More: Who's most likely to win 2025 NBA Finals MVP? Here are key predictions 1) Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (PG) 2) Chet Holmgren (PF) 3) Aaron Wiggins (SG) 4) Jalen Williams (F) 5) Luguentz Dort (G) 6) Jaylin Williams (F) 7) Branden Carlson (C) 8) Ousmane Dieng (F) 9) Alex Ducas (G) 10) Adam Flager (F) 11) Isaiah Hartenstein (C) 12) Isaiah Joe (SG) 13) Dillon Jones (F) 14) Ajay Mitchell (G) 15) Nikola Topic (G) 16) Cason Wallace (G) 17) Kenrich Williams (SF) Already named as league MVP and the Western Conference Finals MVP for this season, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is making bounds and raising hopes for the Thunder's victory. His stats from this season demonstrate an average of 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. Luguentz Dort and SGA command the longest time with the Thunder since joining them in 2019. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were picked by the Thunder in the first round back in 2022. 1) Tyrese Haliburton (PG) 2) Myles Turner (C) 3) Bennedict Mathurin (SG) 4) Obi Toppin (PF) 5) TJ McConnell (PG) 6) Andrew Nembhard (PG) 7) James Johnson (PF) 8) Tony Bradley (C) 9) RayJ Dennis (G) 10) Enrique Freeman (F) 11) John Furphy (F) 12) Isaiah Jackson (SF) 13) Quenton Jackson (G) 14) Ben Sheppard (G) 15) Jarace Walker (F) With an 18.8 points average, 9.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, Tyrese Haliburton has grown over the persona attached with his game after being voted as the most overrated player in the league in a poll taken by The Athletic. The Pacers have a clear edge over the Thunder when it comes to experienced players. Alex Caruso (Thunder) defeated the Heat in six during his time playing for the Lakers in 2020. Pascal Siakam (Pacers) won over the Warriors in six as part of the Raptors in 2019. Aaron Nesmith (Pacers) lost against the Warriors in six as a part of the Celtics in 2022. Thomas Bryant (Pacers) defeated the Heat in five with the Nuggets in 2023. The match will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN+ at 8:30 PM ET.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder players to watch vs Indiana Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to host the first game of the NBA Finals in their hometown on Thursday (June 5). The team will be playing against the Indiana Pacers for the title in what's proved to be an interesting but welcome lead-up to a compelling season. This matchup marks the sixth consecutive season where the NBA does not have a repeat finalist from either the Eastern or Western Conference. Moreover, this is the first time that two mid-scale teams are facing off against each other for the title. All eyes are set on the key players among the Thunder to bring home the cup and laurels for the first time since 1979. Named as league MVP and Western Conference finals MVP this year, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is no easy name to tackle. The point guard is known for his ability to glide quickly and smartly through the paint to get to the free-throw line and deliver tough finishes. With an average of 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.1% from the field, Alexander is a score-first player in contrast to his Pacers counterpart, Tyrese Haliburton. He secured decisive wins in the five games played against the Minnesota Timberwolves to gain a decisive footing in the West. Only the first match against Haliburton will reveal how well he stands up to the underdog team of this series. Jalen Williams gave a challenge to the Timberwolves in every match he played, but struggled to be an offensive threat against the Denver Nuggets during the second round. Although the burden to stabilize things can be left up to Chet Holmgren, Williams still needs to be consistent to deliver optimal performance. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are the hidden key to the Thunder's offensive and defensive success. In most situations, the Thunder tend to rely solely on their top two to three players to secure a win. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace are tasked with providing backcourt depth to the Thunder during play. Although they have a decisive edge when it comes to rotation, the fact that even their ninth guy is better than the Pacers' seventh or eighth player does not always translate into a definitive advantage on the floor. The match will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN+ at 8:30 PM ET.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Pick, Best Bets: OKC Heavy Home Favorites
MVP favorite Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and the Thunder are the heavy favorites -- both in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and to win the series -- against the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves. MVP favorite Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and the Thunder are the heavy favorites -- both in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and to win the series -- against the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The highly anticipated Western Conference Finals battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder (1) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (6) is upon us. OKC is coming off a draining seven-game series vs. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, while the Wolves were able to make quick work of the Stephen Curry-less Warriors in the second round. The Wolves have not played since sealing their gentleman's sweep of Golden State last Wednesday. The Thunder, on the other hand, had to turn their attention from the Nuggets to the Wolves immediately after Game 7 of their second-round series on Sunday. For a comprehensive look at how to bet on the series -- from how many games it will go to who is favored to be the series leader in points, rebounds and various other stats -- check out Newsweek's Timberwolves vs. Thunder Western Conference Finals series betting preview. Wolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Betting Odds DK FD bet365 MIN spread +7.5 (-110) +7.5 (-114) +7 (-110) OKC spread -7.5 (-110) -7.5 (-106) -7 (-110) MIN ML +240 +240 +235 OKC ML -298 -295 -290 Total 217.5 (o-112; u-108) 218 (o-110; u-110) 218 (o-110; u-110) How to Watch Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. ET Channel: ESPN Timberwolves vs. Thunder Series Winner Odds (as of May 20) DraftKings : MIN +265; OKC -330 : MIN +265; OKC -330 FanDuel : MIN +295; OKC -370 : MIN +295; OKC -370 bet365: MIN +280; OKC -360 Wolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Analysis, Pick A strong start by the Timberwolves tonight shouldn't surprise anyone. It's hard to overstate the contrast between the two-day turnaround between series for OKC and the six-day turnaround between the second round and the WCF for the Minnesota. Timberwolves vs. Thunder Regular-Season Results (2-2) Dec. 31: OKC 113, MIN 105 Feb. 13: MIN 116, OKC 101 Feb. 23: OKC 130, MIN 123 Feb. 24: MIN 131, OKC 128 (OT) Regular-season head-to-head results are usually instructive when picking Game 1 of a playoff series -- but not always (just ask the Celtics). Does the fact that the Wolves held their own despite Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Donte DiVincenzo all missing three of the four MIN-OKC games mean that the Thunder will have their hands full against the full-strength Wolves? Or will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -- who averaged 35 points per game against Minnesota in the regular season -- and the 10-deep Thunder be too much for the Timberwolves? One key question is whether Minnesota will be able to limit turnovers against the best turnover-forcing team in the league in OKC. The Wolves finished their matchup with the Warriors on a three-game streak of 21-turnover nights. That, however, went largely ignored, as they still won each of those games. Can Minnesota Knock Down Enough 3-Pointers to Beat OKC? Minnesota's 3-point shooting might be the single-biggest thing to watch in this series. Assuming they can avoid turnovers, the Wolves should be able to create plenty of clean looks from long distance. In the regular season, the Thunder thrived defensively despite allowing 39.3 3-point attempts per game because they were the best in the league in opposing 3-point percentage at 34.2. Sticking to that formula has paid off in the playoffs for the Thunder, especially against Denver. The Thunder allowed forced six players -- Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook -- to take at least 4.5 3PA in the conference semis. Gordon (44.1 percent on 4.9 3PA per game) was lights-out, and Jokic was OK, at 32.5 percent on 5.7 3PA per game (but 8-for-32 outside of his 5-for-7 outlier night in Game 5). But Murray (30.6 percent on 7 3PA per game), Braun (28.9 percent on 6.4 3PA per game), Porter Jr. (25 percent on 5.1 3PA per game) and Westbrook (21.9 percent on 4.6 3PA per game) all struggled throughout the series. It won't be hard for the Timberwolves -- a quality 3-point shooting team that is also much healthier and deeper than the Nuggets -- to collectively shoot better from 3-point land than the Nuggets did. Whether they will shoot well enough from downtown to win this series, though, that is the real question. It's worth noting that in the regular season, Minnesota shot 39 percent or better from 3 twice against OKC and lost both those games (113-105 on December 13 and 130-123 on Feb. 23). But the Timberwolves beat the Thunder on Feb. 13 despite shooting 12-for-46 (26.1 percent) from 3. They also won 131-128 in overtime on Feb. 24 in spite of a 9-for-32 (28 percent) 3-point shooting performance. Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 1 Best Bets Ultimately, I think the combo of fresh legs, Edwards and Randle will be enough for Minnesota to start Game 1 hot and cover as three-possession underdogs. Remember, Randle only played in one of the four matchups between these teams. He was a force against both the Lakers in the first round and the Warriors in the second, though, and he gives Minnesota a potent second scoring option alongside Edwards. One reason why the Thunder are heavily favored could be the fact that Anthony Edwards shot 36 percent from the floor (31.6 percent from 3) in the regular season. Tonight, though, I expect Edwards to shoot the ball much better thanks to the presence of Randle, DiVincenzo and Gobert (particularly the former). If OKC does force Edwards to beat them as a passer, that will mean open looks for Minnesota's long list of capable shooters. Seven of the top eight players in coach Chris Finch's current rotation shot at least 33 percent from 3 on 3.7 3PA or more in the regular season, with Gobert being the only exception. Wolves +7.5 (-114 at FanDuel) -- 1 unit Over 217.5 (-112 at DraftKings) -- 1 unit Wolves 1Q ML (+160 at bet365) -- 0.5 units 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.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Betting Preview: WCF Series Odds, Picks, Best Bets
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves enter the Western Conference Finals as heavy underdogs vs. the Thunder. Minnesota vs. OKC tips off on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves enter the Western Conference Finals as heavy underdogs vs. the Thunder. Minnesota vs. OKC tips off on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Western Conference Finals get underway on Tuesday night, with Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves taking on MVP favorite Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and the Thunder. The Wolves controlled both their first-round series against the Lakers and their second-round matchup with the Warriors, notching 4-1 gentleman's sweeps of both LA and Golden State. The Thunder, on the other hand, swept the Grizzlies in the first round, but needed seven games to vanquish Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Timberwolves vs. Thunder WCF Series Odds On paper, this Western Conference Finals matchup is a fascinating one that promises to be competitive. But as you can see below, DraftKings, FanDuel and bet365 all list the Wolves at as long as +300 to win this series. Note: Odds up to date as of Monday, May 19. DK FD bet365 Wolves +265 +300 +280 Thunder -330 -375 -360 Wolves-Thunder Spread, Total Games Odds While the most popular market for bettors tackling a series that hasn't started yet is the series winner market, there are plenty of other ways to bet on how a series will play out, including Series Spread, Total Games and more. Timberwolves vs. Thunder Series Spread Odds In MIN-OKC, it's possible to bet on either team to win the series by 1.5 or 2.5 games. The winner would have to get it done in six games (4-2) to cover at -1.5, and it would need to win 4-1 (or 4-0) to cover at -2.5. The odds below come from DraftKings: OKC -1.5 (-140); MIN +1.5 (+120) OKC -2.5 (+135); MIN +2.5 (-160) MIN -1.5 (+425); OKC +1.5 (-550) MIN -2.5 (+1000); OKC +2.5 (-1800) Timberwolves vs. Thunder Total Games Odds The line on how many games this series will go is set at 5.5 at most sportsbooks, including DK, FD and bet365: DraftKings: Over 5.5 (-135); Under 5.5 (+115) FanDuel: Over 5.5 (-140); Under 5.5 (+114) bet365: Over 5.5 (-135); Under 5.5 (-105) Additional series markets include Game/Series Double, Exact Games and Exact Outcome. On the player props front, you can wager on which player will lead a series in points, made threes, rebounds, assists and more. Timberwolves vs. Thunder Analysis We're going to focus on how and why the Wolves could pull off the upset in this section, because the case for the Thunder is obvious -- and we don't blame you if you're bullish on the team that is -300 or shorter to win this series. Why the Timberwolves Could Take Down the Thunder There are a lot of reasons to like the Wolves to at least push the Thunder. The first two are Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Minnesota's outstanding 3-point shooting as a team and its solid bench are two other key strengths. Can Edwards, Randle Stay Hot? The case for the Wolves starts with superstar Anthony Edwards. But keep in mind that Minnesota went 2-1 vs. the Warriors in games where he was held relatively in check (23 points or fewer). Edwards also shot below 40 percent twice vs. the Lakers, and the Wolves won both those games. In Julius Randle, the Wolves also have an excellent second scoring option after Edwards. He averaged an impressive 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game vs. the Lakers, then posted 25.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 7.4 apg vs. the Warriors. If he remains that productive against the Thunder, the Wolves will have a real chance to push this series to seven games, if not win it. How Randle performs in this series will be fascinating. He missed three of his team's four regular-season matchups vs. the Thunder. The only time he faced OKC this year, he finished with just 11 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Edwards played in all four MIN-OKC games in the regular season and averaged 22.25 points on just 24-for-66 FG shooting (36 percent). Timberwolves' Deep Bench Key to Series OKC's depth was one of the biggest reasons it was able to outlast Denver in the second round. No fewer than five reserves -- Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams -- all played a significant part in that series. While the Thunder are deeper than the Wolves, it's an understatement to say that the Timberwolves -- whose eight-man rotation heavily features Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker -- have a better bench than Denver. Can Minnesota Win The 3-Point And/Or Turnover Battles? The last two variables worth discussing with Minnesota -- both of which are pivotal for any team facing the Thunder -- are 3-point shooting and turnovers. The Wolves were one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA in the regular season. For the most part, they've continued to shoot the ball well from outside in the postseason. But in three of their 10 playoff games (Games 2 and 5 vs. the Lakers and Game 1 vs. the Warriors), they shot 20 percent or worse from 3-point land. Against a Thunder team that successfully forced the Nuggets' complementary pieces to beat them from outside, it will be crucial that DiVincenzo, Reid, Randle and NAW make OKC pay for leaving them open. The biggest concern for Minnesota is the turnover battle. Edwards alone averaged 3.4 turnovers vs. the Warriors, and the Wolves had 21 turnovers apiece in each of Games 3, 4 and 5 of that series. Against the Thunder -- who were second in the league in defensive turnover rate in the regular season (14.9) and have bumped that up to 17.8 in the playoffs -- Minnesota could be in huge trouble if it's unable to avoid TOs. Timberwolves vs. Thunder Series Best Bets As we've given away at this point, the Timberwolves have a real chance to advance to the Finals. And at minimum, Minnesota could absolutely make this a seven-game series. It's hard to overstate what an advantage the Wolves should have in Games 1 and 2 given that they're coming off back-to-back 4-1 series. The Thunder, on the other hand, were pushed to the limit by the Nuggets in a battle that just ended on Sunday. Also consider the regular-season results. These teams split four meetings despite Randle, DiVincenzo and Rudy Gobert each missing three of those four games. As for our favorite Timberwolves vs. Thunder series leader bet, SGA's status as the favorite to score the most points in this series makes plenty of sense. That being said, he'll face a tough group of perimeter defenders for Minnesota, and Edwards is such a good scorer that he'd be tempting at longer than 2-to-1 odds, regardless of the opponent or circumstances. Total Games -- Over 5.5 (-135 at DraftKings) -- 1 unit Series Spread -- MIN +1.5 (+132 at FanDuel) -- 0.75 units Series Leader (Points) Anthony Edwards (+230 at bet365) -- 0.5 units 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.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'No matter what happens..' - Shai-Gilgeous Alexander sends heartfelt message to mom after Game 4 win
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander sends heartfelt message to mom after Game 4 win (Image Credit: Getty Images) Shai-Gilgeous Alexander spoke highly of motherly love and sent shout-outs to mom and women dear to him during the interview on the court after the Game 4 win . He also elaborated on her parents' role in shaping his basketball career while addressing the Game 4 postgame presser. Alexander's words demonstrated the importance his parents hold in his life, and he acknowledged the unconditional love his mother showers on him. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander shared role of parents in his career after Game 4 win Shai-Gilgeous Alexander attended the postgame presser after Game 4, which his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder , won. He showed his emotional side while talking about his parents' role in shaping his basketball career, explaining what keeps him going despite the ups and downs during the games. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo Shai-Gilgeous was asked, 'Your mother was a great athlete in her own right. Dealt with high-pressure situations. Do you get any counsel? I assume you talked to her before the game and said, you know, happy Mother's Day ? Yeah. Did you receive any counsel from her? Did she give you any words of wisdom that carried with you today?' He replied, 'My parents, they don't like, hype me up or turn me up for basketball games. But one thing like she always taught me was like, no matter what happens, she's going to love me.' Further, he said, 'And I guess that gives me the ability to go out there and not really care what happens. The people that matter most in my life are going to treat me the same way no matter what happens out there, and that gives me the ability to just trust my work, trust whatever happens, happens and be able to put a smile on my face at the end of the night, no matter what.' Shai-Gilgeous Alexander sent a shoutout to moms just after Game 4 win on Mother's Day Right after winning the game, the Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was approached for a quick bite by a reporter. He was requested to share a message as the game day coincided with Mother's Day. Expressing his love for important motherly figures and his mother, he said: 'Yep. Happy Mother's Day. Haley, Hailey, Charmaine, grandma, grandma, and everybody else's mom… You're the best. Without you, we'd be nothing.' The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Denver Nuggets 92-87 in a highly defensive, low-scoring Game 4. Alexander turned the game in Thunder's favor by scoring 9 points in the fourth quarter. The Thunder and the Nuggets have tied the series 2-2 at the end of Game 4. Also Read: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals real reason behind viral smile after Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 3 loss to Denver Nuggets What do you think of Shai-Gilgeous Alexander's expression of love for his mom on Mother's Day after Game 4 win? Share in the comments.
