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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pacers vs. Thunder 2025 NBA Finals preview: X-Factors, matchups, prediction
Mar 29, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket beside Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images A few days after they punched their ticket, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally learned their 2025 NBA Finals opponent. The Indiana Pacers blew out the New York Knicks in a 125-108 Game 6 win to set up this year's championship series. The Thunder dominated their way to the NBA Finals. They went 12-4 against the West playoffs with mostly double-digit point wins. They beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was given the Western Conference Finals MVP. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Pacers got hot at the right time. A few late-game heroics paired with a high-scoring offense have catapulted them to the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton has stepped up as one of the best playoff players. Pascal Siakam was given the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Before the series starts with Game 1 from Paycom Center on Thursday, Thunder Wire will preview the series and break down matchups, X-factors and pencil in a series prediction for the first-round matchup: Can SGA continue his dominace Dec 26, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images After a slow start, Gilgeous-Alexander has played like an MVP winner in the playoffs. He's averaged 29.8 points on 47.1% shooting, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds. Just a slight decrease from his regular-season numbers, which is expected, adjusted to postseason intensity. Advertisement Against the Pacers this past season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 39 points on 55.6% shooting, eight assists and seven rebounds in two wins. Easy to say that this should be an NBA Finals matchup that could stamp the 26-year-old into one of the all-time greats. Indiana doesn't possess any perimeter defender who can slow him down. No offense to the Pacers, but Gilgeous-Alexander was still a machine through the West's gauntlet. Considering Jalen Brunson picked apart their defense and a lesser version of the MVP winner as a drive-heavy scorer who can get hot with his jumper, this should be a series where he should easily average an efficient 30-plus points. How the Thunder's 3-headed POA monster defend Haliburton Dec 26, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball while Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Pacers run their offense through Haliburton. He's averaged 18.8 points on 46.6% shooting, 9.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds in the playoffs. That's led the NBA in assists during the postseason. He orchestrates the ball movement, but Indiana has plenty of other viable scoring options. Advertisement Against similar players and archetypes, the Thunder have been excellent at limiting high-usage guards in the playoffs. Ja Morant, Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards were blanketed throughout their respective playoff series against OKC, sans a few breakout games. That's the benefit of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace. All three are high-end defenders who will be glued to Haliburton. There won't be a single second in the entire playoff series that at least one of those three guys won't share the floor with Indiana's All-Star. If the Thunder can fade Haliburton into the background and force others like Andrew Nembhard to step up as the primary ball-handler, that'll play right into what they want to do as the league's best defense. Can Hartenstein stay on the floor Mar 29, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) dunks against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images You saw leaks of it against the Timberwolves. Hartenstein's playing time slowly dwindled. To the point he was benched in the second half in favor of small-ball lineups. But the Thunder managed to win the series without ever shaking up their starting lineup. Advertisement The Hartenstein-Holmgren lineup was a weapon against the Grizzlies and Nuggets, but struggled against Minnesota. It's remained a slight positive, but lineup data suggest OKC's best lineup is when Chet Holmgren is the sole center. Let's see if the Pacers' five-out offense can force the Thunder to change starters. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner are a talented enough frontcourt that could force Hartenstein to defend in space. The bruiser big is uncomfortable when asked to defend the perimeter. If the Pacers move the ball quickly enough and hit on their outside looks, the Thunder could pivot. They're willing to concede outside looks and trust their perimeter defenders to rotate and close out, but that strategy could bite OKC if Indiana's role players bury them on the scoreboard. Who will be the better second option Mar 29, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) fights for a loose ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images After being on shaky ground in the middle of the Denver series, Jalen Williams has been a bona fide second option. He shut up any doubters with an excellent West Finals. He averaged 22.2 points on 49.4% shooting, 6.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Pair that with stonewall defense, he was the second-best player in that series. Advertisement If Williams can carry that over to the NBA Finals, that'll ensure the Thunder win the championship. The All-Star can bulldoze his way to the basket for either layups or free throws. He can also get into a groove with his jumper. On the other end, expect Williams to be Siakam's primary defender. The former NBA champion has been a playoff riser. He had three 30-point outings against the Knicks that won him the East Finals MVP award in an upset. If Williams can take him down to his regular-season numbers, Indiana won't have anybody else to go to that can get their own buckets. Daigneault in rare experience disadvantage against Carlisle Mar 29, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watches his team play against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images For the first time in all playoffs, Daigneault enters as the freshly-faced rookie. He coached against two interim coaches in the first two rounds with Tuomas Iisalo and David Adelman. And while Chris Finch was in last year's Western Conference Finals, that didn't matter as OKC was a buzzsaw against Minnesota. Advertisement But Rick Carlisle is on a different level. He's been an NBA head coach since 2001. This will be his second NBA Finals. He was the Dallas Mavericks' head coach when they upset the Miami Heat in 2011. The 65-year-old hopes history repeats itself. Besides a few blips, Daigneault has made the right decisions in the playoffs. Let's see if the national spotlight and the highest stakes possible in a basketball game will change that. Meanwhile, Carlisle should know what to expect at this point in the year. X-factor: Chet Holmgren May 28, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images This is kinda a cop-out, but Holmgren didn't play in either matchup against the Pacers. He was out for the post-Christmas date with a hip fracture and also missed the second game in late March. But considering he's played better the deeper the Thunder have progressed in the playoffs, it's fair to say he completely changes the dynamics. Advertisement Holmgren's defense speaks for itself. The Pacers will have him in mind anytime they drive to the basket. The seven-footer will cause plenty of kick-outs to the perimeter. He's the perfect foil to Turner, too. He can hold his own on the perimeter if needed and limit his outside attempts. If the Thunder needs to abandon the double-big lineup, Holmgren will be the lone center. The data suggests they're at their best with him at the five. The Pacers don't have a counter. He'll be quick enough on his feet to avoid being hunted out and has the wingspan to recover. The Thunder will get an early advantage with Holmgren. The Pacers have zero relevant film from this season against him. That means it'll be a couple of games before they can rationally conjure up counters. Until then, though, OKC should feed him the ball early in the post or transition. Series prediction OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 29: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter Paycom Center on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Laying everything out, it's very easy to understand why the Thunder are viewed as the title favorite. They had one of the greatest regular seasons ever with a 68-14 record. That dominance has carried over to the playoffs, besides a couple of hiccups. Advertisement The Thunder are just on another level. That's been the case all season long. From the top to the bottom, they stack up well against the Pacers. No offense to Indiana, but it's closer to the Grizzlies than the Nuggets. They deserve credit for getting this far. This is only their second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and first since 2000. They got hot at the right time and showed their grit with a few comebacks and close wins in their playoff journey But OKC is a machine. It made the bloodbath Western Conference look like a swimming pool. They're in the same company as some of the greatest teams ever and should join that NBA pantheon with a championship, barring one of the most surprising upsets in sports history. Prediction: Thunder in 5 This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals preview: X-Factors, matchups, prediction
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tyrese Haliburton's 6-word comeback on Ben Stiller was ruthless
Tyrese Haliburton didn't just come away from Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a win over the New York Knicks as his Indiana Pacers moved on to the NBA Finals. No, he also came away with a perfect comeback to Ben Stiller, the actor/director/super Knicks fan who made jokes about what the Pacers point guard was carrying into the arena before Game 6. Advertisement NBA FINALS PREDICTIONS: Who's winning Pacers-Thunder? Haliburton rocked an all-black ensemble but it was his bag that Stiller focused on in a post on X (formerly Twitter), as you'll see below: "Good thing he brought his duffel for the flight to NY," he wrote. Not bad. But then Haliburton won and posted this quote tweet: "Nah, was to pack y'all up." Oof. An additional W to Haliburton. Here's how it all played out: Fans everywhere were in awe of that response, but Stiller took it in stride, responding to Haliburton with all class: And then there was this post from Hali to celebrate WARNING: NSFW LANGUAGE AHEAD! Did Tyrese Haliburton think he was going to winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP? This is a good question, because there's video folks are sharing showing Haliburton appearing to step forward right before it was announced that his teammate Pascal Siakam got it. Not a big deal, but hilarious if true. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tyrese Haliburton trolls Ben Stiller after Pacers win over Knicks
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tyrese Haliburton's 6-word comeback on Ben Stiller was ruthless
Tyrese Haliburton's 6-word comeback on Ben Stiller was ruthless Good thing he brought his duffel for the flight to NY. — Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 31, 2025 Tyrese Haliburton didn't just come away from Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a win over the New York Knicks as his Indiana Pacers moved on to the NBA Finals. No, he also came away with a perfect comeback to Ben Stiller, the actor/director/super Knicks fan who made jokes about what the Pacers point guard was carrying into the arena before Game 6. NBA FINALS PREDICTIONS: Who's winning Pacers-Thunder? Haliburton rocked an all-black ensemble but it was his bag that Stiller focused on in a post on X (formerly Twitter), as you'll see below: "Good thing he brought his duffel for the flight to NY," he wrote. Not bad. But then Haliburton won and posted this quote tweet: "Nah, was to pack y'all up." Oof. An additional W to Haliburton. Here's how it all played out: Nah, was to pack y'all up — Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 1, 2025 Fans everywhere were in awe of that response, but Stiller took it in stride, responding to Haliburton with all class: Congrats. All the best in OKC. — Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 1, 2025 And then there was this post from Hali to celebrate WARNING: NSFW LANGUAGE AHEAD! Did Tyrese Haliburton think he was going to winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP? This is a good question, because there's video folks are sharing showing Haliburton appearing to step forward right before it was announced that his teammate Pascal Siakam got it. Tyrese Haliburton DEFINITELY thought he was winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP 💀💀 — Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 1, 2025 Not a big deal, but hilarious if true.
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
What do Pacers, Thunder have in common? Trading Paul George helped build their rosters
Who is most responsible for the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder reaching the 2025 NBA Finals? There are All-Star and All-NBA players, of course. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are the Pacers' anchors, while the Thunder have league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams. Coaches Rick Carlisle of Indiana and Mark Daignault of OKC have made the right moves, as have roster builders Kevin Pritchard of the Pacers and Sam Presti of the Thunder. But both teams owe a sliver of thanks to the same person: Paul George. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star helped both franchises — by being traded away. "I don't mean this facetiously or in a mean way: A very large part of Paul George's NBA legacy is going to be all the great teams that were created in his wake," NBA reporter Zach Lowe said this week on Bill Simmons' podcast. The Pacers selected George 10th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. He became a full-time starter in his second season, and earned Most Improved Player honors in his third. He made the All-Star team four times in Indiana, was voted third-team All-NBA three times and earned All-Defense honors three times. Indiana traded him to the Thunder in 2017, getting Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in return. The Pacers sent Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 8, 2022, and the key piece coming to Indiana was Tyrese Haliburton, who has two All-Star nods and two third-team All-NBA teams since. He has often been spectacular in these playoffs. Also, draft picks that became Andrew Nembhard (31st overall, 2022) and Ben Sheppard (26th overall, 2023) came to the Pacers in deals related to Indiana's 2021 trade of Oladipo to the Houston Rockets. George played two seasons in Oklahoma City, making the All-Star team both years, All-NBA third team in his first and All-NBA first team in his second. In the summer of 2019, OKC sent George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a two-player, seven-draft pick package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had just finished his rookie season. One of those draft picks, a 2022 first-rounder, yielded Jalen Williams. SGA has led the Thunder for six years, earning All-Star berths and first-team All-NBA honors the past three. In 2024-25, he led the league in field-goal attempts (21.8), made free throws (7.9) and points (32.7) per game and was named league MVP. In his third season, Williams was an All-Star and third-team All-NBA selection, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Little-used Dillon Jones also came in the George deal, along with two 2025 first-round picks and a 2026 first rounder. The nod goes to OKC. The Thunder's move brought in their best player directly, and one indirectly with a draft pick. The Pacers needed more moves post-George to complete their Finals roster.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Thrilling Pacers run Knicks ragged, reach first NBA Finals in 25 years
INDIANAPOLIS — James Johnson, the Indiana Pacers' beloved enforcer, pulled his white pickup truck onto Delaware Street around midnight and waved out his window to acknowledge the jubilant swarms of gold-clad fans that lined the downtown sidewalks. Up the road, loud music boomed and horns honked through gridlock traffic, and the watering hole crowds overflowed onto packed sidewalks. A small pack of dejected New York Knicks fans found itself on the wrong end of good-natured heckling: 'Hicks in six!' This Midwestern ecstasy was 25 years in the making. The Pacers pulled away from the Knicks with a hot-shooting third quarter and rode a splendid effort from star forward Pascal Siakam to claim a 125-108 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Indiana, which entered the playoffs as the East's No. 4 seed, tore through the conference bracket with a 12-4 record just one year after being swept out of the East finals by the Boston Celtics. 'When it happened 25 years ago, I wasn't even 6 months old,' Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. 'I think this is a really special time for our organization and our fans. It's a special feeling to do it with this group. We got to the same spot last year and fell short. We worked our tails off to get back here. This is going to be something I remember for the rest of my life.' While the Oklahoma City Thunder will be heavily favored in the Finals, which begin Thursday, the Pacers are charmed underdogs who rebounded from an injury-riddled start to the regular season and executed three incredible late-game comebacks in the postseason. Indiana kept its poise throughout the tense, series-clinching win over New York, in which neither team led by more than six points in the first half. Siakam proved to be the difference-maker, earning Eastern Conference finals MVP honors after finishing with a game-high 31 points to go with five rebounds and three assists. The three-time all-star forward, who won a championship with the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors before being dealt to the Pacers in January 2024, made a three-pointer to open the second-half scoring. The Pacers never looked back, hitting seven three-pointers in the period to open a double-digit lead they never relinquished. 'I was super excited about coming [to Indiana in the trade] because of the pace,' Siakam said. 'It fits who I am as a person and the way I play. We have a lot of underdogs. That's my style. I like that. That's been me my whole life. We're resilient. We won't stop. Even after bad games, we're still going to be here, waking up with our head up and going to work. That's what you want from a team.' Haliburton's savvy playmaking and guard Andrew Nembhard's fierce defense on Knicks star Jalen Brunson helped Indiana stave off several rally attempts down the stretch. Haliburton didn't score in the first quarter, but he found his groove as the game unfolded to post 21 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. In the fourth quarter, he hit a pair of runners in the lane to keep the Knicks at bay. The hard-nosed Nembhard, who was an unheralded second-round pick in 2022, tallied 14 points, eight assists and six steals. The Knicks faced an uphill battle in the series after blowing a 14-point lead in the final three minutes of Game 1, and they sputtered to the finish line following a valiant Game 5 win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. New York was undone by its 18 turnovers — which Indiana converted into 34 points — and its shaky transition defense. Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Game 6, while Brunson managed 19 points on 8-for-18 shooting. 'It hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity for a championship to the city,' Towns said. 'The plan now is to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.' The Pacers, who have been the East's fastest team in the playoffs, ran the Knicks off the court in the second half of the series clincher. Siakam leaked out into the open court for backbreaking buckets, and Haliburton provided the exclamation point by setting up Obi Toppin for a lob dunk with less than three minutes to play. 'Imagine you normally set the treadmill to seven miles an hour,' said a rival assistant coach, whose team was eliminated from the playoffs by Indiana. 'Playing the Pacers is like trying to run at nine miles an hour.' The home crowd roared its approval throughout Game 6, with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark leading the cheers from a courtside seat. After the final buzzer, Haliburton waved for his father, John, to join the festivities. John Haliburton, who was briefly banished from attending Pacers games for taunting Giannis Antetokounmpo following Indiana's first-round series victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, made his way to the court like a conquering hero, accepting handshakes and hugs from fans along the way. Tyrese Haliburton, who was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in a February 2022 trade, basked in the excitement and posed for photographs with rapper Rob 49, who name-checked the Pacers star in his song 'What the Helly.' As Pacers legends Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose were mobbed by selfie seekers, 10-year veteran center Myles Turner drew a loud ovation when he noted during a postgame interview that he had spent 'one-third of my life' in the Hoosier State. 'Nothing but joy,' Turner said. 'Pure excitement and validation. The emotions at this time of year are underrated. You don't sleep. You lose hair. You can't explain that if you've never been here before.' Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle brought the house down by uttering a popular local motto to cap the postgame trophy presentation: 'In 49 states, it's just basketball. But this is Indiana.' Across many of those other 49 states, there will probably be some hand-wringing about a Finals matchup that defies the NBA's norm. The small-market Thunder and Pacers both hail from flyover country, and they are hardly traditional powers. The Thunder franchise hasn't won a championship since 1979 when it was still known as the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Pacers haven't won since joining the NBA from the rival American Basketball Association in 1976. Both teams were distant afterthoughts as recently as the 2021-22 season, when the Thunder won 24 games and the Pacers won 25. Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly crowned MVP, and Haliburton, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time all-star, have since emerged as exquisite playmakers, but they're not nearly as famous as old guard icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Top-heavy super teams tend to attract casual fans, but Oklahoma City and Indiana win with deep casts of hardworking role players who are more appealing to purists. Even so, the Thunder and Pacers were clearly the most deserving representatives from their respective conferences. Oklahoma City went 12-4 through the West bracket, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, surviving seven games with Nikola Jokic and the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets in the second round, and then making light work of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. Indiana dispatched Antetokounmpo's Bucks as an appetizer and stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round before outlasting the Knicks. Now, one of these two party-crashers — the Thunder or the Pacers — is set to become the NBA's seventh different champion in the past seven seasons. 'This is no time to be popping champagne,' Carlisle said, while the celebrations outside the arena were still just getting started. 'We understand the magnitude of the opponent. Oklahoma City has been dominant all season long, with capital letters in the word DOMINANT. Defensively, they're historically great. I think it has the makings of a great series.'
