Buffalo Bandits make NLL history with MacKay's MVP nod and Smith's explosive offense

The
Buffalo Bandits
have done it again, making history with a thrilling 15-13 victory over the Albany
FireWolves
to claim their third straight
National Lacrosse League
(
NLL
) title. In front of a roaring home crowd of over 18,000 at KeyBank Center, the Bandits delivered a performance worthy of a dynasty.
This win marks the seventh championship in franchise history. The Bandits are now only the second team ever to pull off a
three-peat
in the NLL, matching the legendary run of the Toronto Rock in the early 2000s.
The FireWolves, appearing in their first
NLL Finals
, started strong and kept Buffalo under pressure in the first half. Albany led 8-7 at halftime, forcing the Bandits to dig deep. Buffalo responded in the third quarter with a six-goal surge that changed the game.
Play Video
Play
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Mute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions and subtitles off
, selected
Audio Track
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini
Limfoma
Klik Di Sini
Undo
Though Albany rallied late in the fourth quarter, the Bandits held their ground with strong defense and clutch goaltending. The final whistle sealed their place in NLL history.
Ian MacKay was named
Finals MVP
for his outstanding performance throughout the series, anchoring Buffalo's defense and keeping the FireWolves at bay.
Live Events
Dhane Smith
was a key player for the Bandits, scoring five goals and adding four assists in the final game. His leadership and offense powered Buffalo throughout the playoffs.
Josh Byrne and Chris Cloutier also played key roles, scoring important goals that helped shift momentum during tight moments.
Head coach John Tavares, an NLL legend himself, praised his team's composure. 'They stayed calm under pressure and trusted each other,' he said after the game. 'This group earned every bit of this championship.'
Albany's loss should not overshadow their remarkable season. In just their third year since rebranding, the FireWolves reached the league's biggest stage and pushed one of the best teams ever to the limit.
The Bandits now stand on the brink of being considered an NLL dynasty. With a championship core and elite coaching, Buffalo's lacrosse reign might not be over just yet.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

News18

39 minutes ago

• News18

Kevin Durant Set To Join Houston Rockets In Blockbuster NBA Trade; KD Finds Out Live On Stage

Last Updated: The Rockets will reportedly give up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and six future picks to acquire the two-time NBA Champion Durant. As summer approaches in the NBA, it's always 'sun's out, guns out'. Oh well, for the Phoenix Suns, though, it's Kevin Durant who's out of the franchise now. The Houston Rockets are set to acquire 15-time All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal struck Sunday, as per reports. According to AP, the Rockets are giving up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and six future picks — including the No. 10 selection in Wednesday's opening round of this year's draft. It ends weeks of speculation about where Durant would end up. The news came as a shock to NBA fans all over, while Durant was on stage in New York at Fanatics Fest NYC, when the news broke. 'We're gonna see, man," Durant said from the stage. 'We're gonna see." Durant averaged 26.6 points this season for the Suns, who had an abysmal outing, missing the playoffs. His departure from the Suns was expected and ends a disappointing two-and-a-half-year tenure. Durant was acquired by the Suns from the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team trade-deadline deal in 2023, just days after new owner Mat Ishbia bought the team for roughly $4 billion. Much was stated about the fit at Phoenix — who had the trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal playing together — which never seemed to click for the franchise, as they sunk to a dismal 36-46 record in the season to earn an 11th place finish in the Western Conference. Durant is a four-time scoring champion, a two-time Finals MVP and one of eight players in NBA history with more than 30,000 career points, joining the club on Feb. 11. For his career, the 'Easy Money Sniper' is averaging 27.2 points and seven rebounds per game. Durant will play for his fifth franchise, following stints with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Phoenix. He has one year left on his current contract at $54.7 million, and is eligible this summer for a two-year extension worth up to $122 million. (with AP inputs) First Published: June 23, 2025, 09:03 IST

Time of India

41 minutes ago

• Time of India

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA Finals MVP after leading Thunder to title victory

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player on Sunday after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a title-clinching 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7. The 26-year-old Canadian capped off a sensational season by becoming the first player since LeBron James in 2012-13 to win both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same year. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar all-around performance in the decisive game, tallying 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo — NBA (@NBA) "For me this is a win for my family, my friends, and everyone who's been in my corner growing up. It means everything. This is why you play the game - to win. We rose to the moment and here we are," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the victory. Live Events — NBA (@NBA) He now joins an elite group of just 11 players in NBA history to achieve the MVP double in a single season, a club that includes legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O'Neal. — NBA (@NBA) With this championship, Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly cemented his status as one of the league's brightest stars and the driving force behind Thunder's rise to the top.

Hindustan Times

2 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

Oklahoma City Thunder win NBA Finals: How many times has OKC won the championship?

The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the 2025 NBA Finals, defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 on Sunday at Paycom Center, marking a historic moment for the franchise. This victory, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, secured the Thunder's first NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots a 3-pointer(AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder have won two championships all-time. Their first title came in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics, when Dennis Johnson led the team to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Bullets, earning Finals MVP honors. The second championship was secured in 2025, with the Thunder defeating the Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series. The franchise, which began as the SuperSonics in 1967 before moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, has a 2-3 record in NBA Finals appearances, with losses in 1978 (SuperSonics vs. Bullets), 1996 (SuperSonics vs. Bulls), and 2012 (Thunder vs. Heat). The Thunder's 2025 championship ends a 46-year title drought since their 1979 win. The 2024-25 season saw OKC dominate with a franchise-record 68-14 regular-season record and a league-best point differential of 12.9, surpassing the 1971-72 Lakers' mark. Despite a Game 6 loss, the Thunder's depth, anchored by Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP-caliber play and a top-ranked defense, propelled them to victory in Game 7. For the Indiana Pacers, their star Tyrese Haliburton was left injured midway through the first quarter. The point guard was off to a terrific start in the decider with three three-pointers in the first five minutes of the game when he slipped and fell while driving toward the basket. He slapped his fist and wept as team medical staff rushed to his aid with five minutes left in the quarter. He was later seen gingerly moving to the locker room with the aid of two staff members with a towel over his head. (With inputs from Reuters)