The Thundertaker? Pascal Siakam explains his viral moment from the NBA Finals

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam celebrates a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. Michael Conroy AP
These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing.
These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing.

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The Province

2 hours ago

• The Province

The final act of the NBA Finals: 2 teams, 1 game, 1 trophy. Pacers at Thunder will decide a champion

Published Jun 21, 2025 • 4 minute read Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts a shot against Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Photo by POOL/AFP/File / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA OKLAHOMA CITY — It started with 30 teams, most of them fairly optimistic about their chances when the season began eight months and 1,320 games and 35,543 3-pointers and 299,608 points ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Only two teams remain. For one game. Game 7. The NBA season ends Sunday night when the Indiana Pacers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder to decide which team will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy, take over for the Boston Celtics as champions and become the league's seventh different title winner in the last seven years. It's the first winner-take-all game in the NBA since 2016, when Cleveland beat Golden State. 'I'm very much looking forward to Game 7,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'The last time we've had one of these in the finals, I think, was '16. These are special moments certainly for both teams but for our league, for the game, for the worldwide interest in the game. It's a time to celebrate.' Yes, but only one team will celebrate Sunday night. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For the Pacers, it would be a first NBA title and the capper to a season that started with Indiana banged up and getting off to a 10-15 record through the first 25 games. No team has ever been below .500 that deep into a season and went on to win a championship. For the Thunder, it would be a first NBA title — kind of, sort of, Seattle won one in 1979 and even though the franchise moved to Oklahoma City from there, the Thunder don't recognize it as one of their own — and wrap up a season in which the team scored more points than any other club in NBA history and posted the best record. 'We have to understand the work is done and we have to trust the work,' Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said Saturday, the final practice day of the season. 'The muscle is built. We have to flex that muscle. That's what tomorrow will come down to for us.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It has been the epitome of a back-and-forth series, with both teams having the lead at some point. Indiana led 1-0 and 2-1; Oklahoma City led 3-2 but got blown out in Game 6, its first chance at winning the title. So, here we are, tied at 3-3, one game away from a decision. 'Grateful for the opportunity,' Thunder guard Jalen Williams said. 'That's one thing I can say is throughout the whole entire thing, you always have to remain grateful for where you are because there's a lot of NBA players that will trade their spot with me right now. That's how I look at it. But as far as history, I want to be on the good side of that, for sure.' Oklahoma City has looked every bit the part of a championship contender all year; going 68-14 in the regular season cemented the Thunder into the favourite's role. Being the best team in the regular season is for this very privilege, to play host for Game 7. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Pacers peaked at the right time and took the more circuitous route here. But they've already started this series with a win in Oklahoma City. They see no reason why it can't end the same way. 'I think we just have done a great job of just staying together,' Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. 'There's not a group of guys I'd rather go to war with. I'm really excited to compete with these guys in a Game 7, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Haliburton's health The strained right calf is still an issue for Haliburton, but he played in Game 6 with the injury and — no surprise — he's going to play in Game 7. 'I'm pretty much in the same standpoint I was before Game 6,' Haliburton said. 'A little sore. Good thing I only had to play like 23 minutes. I've been able to get even more treatment and do more things. Just trying to take care of it the best I can. But I'll be ready to go for Game 7.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Counting all games this season, Oklahoma City's two lowest-scoring outputs were 81 points against Milwaukee and 91 points against Indiana. The Bucks game was in the NBA Cup final. The Pacers game was Game 6, when OKC had a chance to win the NBA title. So, in the two 'championship' games the Thunder have played this season, they're averaging 86 points. In all other games, they're averaging 119.7 points. 'We obviously have to get better offensively,' Thunder guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Last game, clearly, was not good enough and not going to cut it, and we know that. We watch film for those type of things. You have games like that. Now, it sucks to have it at that stage obviously, but we know we have to be better, for sure.' Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News Hockey

Winnipeg Free Press

4 hours ago

• Winnipeg Free Press

Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth to perform national anthem before Game 7 of NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — At 4-foot-11, Kristin Chenoweth is still making it to the NBA Finals. The award-winning actress, singer, Oklahoma native, Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee and unabashed Thunder fan is performing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before Game 7 of the title series between the Thunder and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, the NBA announced. Chenoweth's performance will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern, shortly before tipoff of the season's final game. Chenoweth's Thunder fandom has been no secret for at least the last 15 years, though she also has professed at times to liking the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks as well. That said, the Thunder are clearly her top choice — so much so that she once told the Tulsa World she spent three hours bedazzling a Thunder hat. She went to Oklahoma City University after growing up in Broken Arrow, about 115 miles northeast of where the Thunder play. And her dog's name is Thunder. She even dressed the pup up once in a Thunder outfit. Chenoweth has been the anthem singer at multiple Thunder games in the past, sometimes alone and at least once with children from her Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp. That camp is part of the arts and education fund that she founded to cultivate 'young artistic expression by enriching children's lives through the power of education, entertainment and experience.' Chenoweth won a Tony Award in 1999 for best featured actress in a musical for her role in 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.' She also earned two other Tony nominations for best actress in a musical — one in 2004 for playing Glinda in 'Wicked' and the other in 2015 for playing 1930s Hollywood diva Lily Garland in 'On the Twentieth Century.' And in 2009, she won an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her work on ABC's 'Pushing Daisies.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP NBA:

Toronto Star

4 hours ago

• Toronto Star

The Thundertaker? Pascal Siakam explains his viral moment from the NBA Finals

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam celebrates a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. Michael Conroy AP These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing. These NBA Finals have renewed excitement in many ways. And if there is a changing of the guard underway, that's not a bad thing.