The Oklahoma City Thunder win the NBA championship after defeating Indiana Pacers in winner-take-all Game 7

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Title: Thunder cap off incredible season with a hard-earned NBA title
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The Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday night finished what they started back in late October, and put the rest of the NBA on notice that there's a new sheriff in town.
With an average age under 26, the Thunder capped off one of the winningest seasons in league history with a seven-game triumph over a pesky Indiana Pacers team to win the Larry O'Brien trophy.
It was a tight affair in the early-going, indicative of the back-and-forth nature of the entire series, and then disaster struck for Indiana.
Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had been instrumental in a string of incredible comeback wins for the Pacers this postseason, went down with a non-contact injury to his lower right leg. He writhed in pain, slapping the floor in a mixture of frustration, heartbreak and physical discomfort. His father later confirmed to broadcaster ESPN what many had suspected - it was an Achilles injury for the 25-year-old.
With every excuse to throw in the towel, the Pacers instead rallied around their injured leader. Keyed by Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a hard-nosed defense, Indiana took a surprising 48-47 lead into halftime.
As the adrenaline began to wear off, the Thunder started to impose their will in the third quarter of the game.
In the blink of an eye, the game went from tied at 56-56 to a nine-point OKC lead after three consecutive long range shots from the Thunder's 'Big 3' - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
The Thunder never looked back from that point.
OKC, which boasted the league's best defense in the regular season, began swarming all over the short-handed Pacers. The Thunder held Indiana scoreless for the first 4:31 of the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City's lead grew to 22 points.
The Pacers showed their trademark determination and never quit, trimming the deficit down to 10 points with two-and-a-half minutes left.
But without their late-game hero Haliburton, the mountain was just too steep for the Pacers, and the Thunder ultimately won the game 103-91.
The Thunder's centerpiece, Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 29 points and earned Finals MVP honors, becoming the first player since LeBron James in 2013 to earn both regular season and Finals MVP awards. SGA also became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the league MVP trophy, the scoring title and win the Finals, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal.
After looking listless at halftime, the Thunder closed their season in the same fashion that they had been playing since October: Intense defense, lightning quick runs and leaning on Gilgeous-Alexander's near-perfect basketball to take home the title.
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Title: Isaiah Hartenstein's sleeping child steals hearts
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The lasting image from the celebration tonight will not be remembered by its focal point.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein was on the stage, celebrating with his teammates and holding his son who was absolutely zonked out.
Lil Hartenstein is slumped 😂😂😂 congrats Okc.
The little Hartenstein is a little more than a year old and truly must not be used to late nights because even amid the raucous cheering in the Paycom Center, he was sleeping hard.
Hartenstein said he wanted the crowd to make a little noise to wake up his son but it was to no avail.
Sometimes, you just gotta sleep.
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Title: Pacers coach on Haliburton injury: "All of our hearts dropped"
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An emotional Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle talked about his star player, Tyrese Haliburton, who went down with an apparent Achilles injury in the first quarter.
'What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped. But he will be back. I don't have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he'll be back in time, and I believe he'll make a full recovery,' Carlisle told reporters. Haliburton's father told the ABC broadcast that the injury was to his son's Achilles.
'So, he authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play. It was just something that no one's ever seen and did it as 1 of 17. You know, that's the beautiful thing about him. As great a player as he is, it's always a team thing. And so, our hearts go out to him.'
Carlisle also congratulated the Thunder for their NBA championship win.
'The way this season started and everything, they may have had those buses painted up back in December,' Carlisle said. 'So they will have a great parade. They have great fans. This was a great series.'
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Title: SGA on winning title: "It doesn't feel real"
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'It doesn't feel real,' Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told ABC's Lisa Salters after the game when asked about accomplishing his childhood dream of winning an NBA title.
'So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief. It's crazy to know we are all here. But this group worked for it and this group put in the hours and deserved this.'
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Finals MVP said 'the fun' he had tonight with his family is what he will remember the most of the NBA Finals first Game 7 in almost decade.
'The moment was amazing,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'The fans were amazing. It was so much fun. Exactly what I expected.'
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Title: Tears and hugs for the Pacers after coming up just short in championship quest
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As Paycom Center erupted in joy after Oklahoma City clinched its first NBA title, there was also an outpouring of emotion from the Indiana Pacers, who game up just short in this seven-game rollercoaster of an NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' late game hero so many times this postseason, was waiting on crutches in the tunnel to welcome his teammates after a reported Achilles injury ended his night in the first quarter.
The injured star exchanged consoling handshakes and hugs with all of the Pacers' players, coaches and basketball staff as they filtered through the tunnel.
Pacers' royalty Reggie Miller was also seen in the tunnel to offer words of encouragement to the dejected Indiana players. The five-time All-Star and hall of famer Miller was part of the only other Pacers team to reach the Finals in 2000, when Indiana fell to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reserve guard TJ McConnell, who stepped up with 16 points off the bench in Game 7 and a whopping 84 points in the series, was inconsolable as the emotion poured out in the wake of the heartbreaking loss.
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Title: To no one's surprise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is named the Finals MVP
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Who else could it be?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the regular season MVP and now he can call himself the NBA Finals MVP as well.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the @okcthunder is the recipient of the Bill Russell Trophy as the MVP of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV. pic.twitter.com/MT5eBgDGWi
SGA becomes just the fourth ever player to win the scoring title, regular season MVP and NBA Finals in the same season, joining Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Not bad company.
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Title: The Thunder were reeling at halftime. Then they got back to being who they are
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Truly a game of two halves for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After a mostly listless opening two quarters in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – surely the MVP of these Finals – was the only player on the team in double figures, the Thunder returned to what makes them great.
The suffocating defense, the breakneck speed on the offensive end and SGA playing an exquisite game of basketball was more than enough to put away the Pacers.
It's been a truly remarkable Finals – most pundits expected the Pacers to be swept or maybe go down in five games – and a second-half blowout and Tyrese Haliburton's devastating injury wouldn't have been on anyone's wishlist for how it would end.
But no one can argue the Thunder don't deserve this title, putting together one of the most complete seasons the NBA has seen in quite some time.
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Title: OKC HAVE WON THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP!
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Oklahoma City outlasted a potential signature Indiana fourth quarter comeback to win the NBA championship.
The Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to bring home the franchise's first title since moving to 'The Big Friendly' in 2008.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 29 points and 12 assists to lead the Thunder to the franchise-altering win.
The major key of the game for the Thunder was the defense.
OKC forced Indiana to commit 23 total turnovers, scoring 29 points off of them.
The Thunder, who finished with the NBA's best regular season record, become the second straight team to win the title and have the best regular season record after the Boston Celtics did last year.
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Title: With 32 seconds left, the Thunder are on the brink
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The Thunder are on the verge as the bench is emptied and the starters exit to a huge ovation.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle does the same and it's just about done here.
Score: Thunder 103, Pacers 87
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Title: The celebration is starting in Oklahoma City as Thunder look to close this game out
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The Paycom Center is rocking as the Thunder are closing out this Game 7 over the Indiana Pacers.
It's now a 14-point game with a minute to go.
Score: Thunder 101, Pacers 87
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Title: Time running out on the Pacers
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There were hints that the Pacers maybe had one last miraculous comeback in them, but it's looking increasingly unlikely.
The Thunder have a 13-point lead and we are under three minutes to go.
Score: Thunder 94, Pacers 81
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Title: The Thunder's defense has been the key to this second-half surge
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Somewhere, Nico Harrison is smiling because it does seem like defense is about to win a championship.
The Thunder were the league's best defensive team in the regular season, leading the NBA in defensive efficiency. In the opening game of this series, they forced Indiana to turn the ball over an insane 25 times, making the Pacers' win in that game even crazier.
But in this game, the Pacers no longer have Tyrese Haliburton. And they appear to have run out of miracles.
The Thunder have forced the Pacers into 19 turnovers and scored 28 points off those turnovers. Particularly in the second half, the Pacers shooting has been disappointing and they're under 40% from the field for the game.
It seemed at halftime like this game was going to be a rock fight until the end. But the Thunder opened up the third quarter like a team that remembered what got it here – defense, defense, defense.
Oh, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the game with 25 points.
Score: Thunder 93, Pacers 80
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Title: Pacers cut into deficit as final quarter ticks down
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Just like that, the Pacers have cut the lead down to 14 points with 4:45 remaining the game.
Indiana are currently on an 11-1 run behind two players off the bench – TJ McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin, who both have 16 points.
Can the Thunder hold on to the lead or are the Pacers due for another improbable fourth quarter comeback?
Score: Thunder 93, Pacers 79
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Title: It's been all Thunder in the fourth quarter as they open up a 21-point lead
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Oklahoma City has all the momentum and they lead by 21 points with under nine minutes to go in the game.
The Thunder are firing on all cylinders – offensively and defensively.
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a game-high 25 points while Chet Holmgren is defending the boards with six rebounds and three blocks.
The Thunder can start to see their first title for the franchise since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Score: Thunder 89, Pacers 68
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Title: TJ McConnell's 3rd quarter heroics keeping Indiana within shouting distance
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With star point guard sidelined for the rest of the game with a reported Achilles injury and the game seemingly beginning to slip away in the third quarter, the Pacers once again released its secret weapon – veteran reserve guard TJ McConnell.
Just as he has time and time again for the Pacers this postseason, the 33-year-old guard came of the bench with a huge shot in the arm for his team.
McConnell caught fire for the Pacers coming out of halftime, pouring in 12 points in the third quarter and suddenly leading Indiana in scoring with 16 points in the game.
The high-energy reserve also has 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.
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Title: Thunder one quarter away from hoisting Larry O'Brien trophy
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Twelve minutes is all that separates both these teams from being NBA champions.
The Thunder take a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter after a huge frame from the NBA's best regular season team.
Shai Gilegous-Alexander has a game-high 22 points while TJ McConnell is doing his best Haliburton impression off the bench with 16 points.
But the Pacers' turnovers are killing them and it seems like the Thunder rediscovered their identity at halftime.
Can the Thunder keep this momentum in the final quarter?
Score: Thunder 81, Pacers 68
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Title: Defense turning to offense for OKC as they open up a double-digit lead
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The Paycom Center is rocking with electricity as the Thunder lead by 11 points with under two minutes to play in the third quarter.
It isn't the offense thats propeling OKC to the lead, it's their defense.
The Thunder have been all over Indiana, forcing them into eight turnovers in the quarter alone.
The even more impressive part… they have 25 points off Indiana turnovers.
The Pacers have 17 total turnovers while the Thunder have five.
Score: Thunder 79, Pacers 68
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Title: Thunder starting to pull away?
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For a second there, it looked like the Pacers finally woke up after halftime.
Indy tied the game at 56 on a Myles Turner 3-pointer.
But since it's again been all Thunder. And it's not just their MVP that's doing the work.
OKC went on a 3-point barrage - three consecutive long range shots from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. SGA's teammates are stepping up after a quiet first half and that could be the deciding factor in this one.
The Thunder hold a nine-point lead – the largest of the game so far.
Indiana has had a response to each Thunder run in this game. Do they have a counterpunch ready or is this going to be one of those trademark Thunder runs that breaks the game open?
Score: Thunder 65, Pacers 56
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Title: Thunder come out of half scorching hot
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The Thunder look like a different team to start the second half.
OKC took the lead on a Chet Holmgren two-point shot and have not looked back since.
Luguentz Dort has been one of the few Thunder players shooting the ball well from 3-point land and knocked down a crazy long range Hail Mary as the shot clock expired to expand the lead.
Game 5 hero Jalen Williams finally looked himself as he drove to the rim to extend the lead to five points.
There is still 9:20 to play in the third quarter.
Score: Thunder 56, Pacers 51
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Title: How are the Pacers hanging with the Thunder minus their injured star?
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When Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton went down midway through the first quarter with a reported Achilles injury, conventional wisdom would have suggested that the already-difficult prospect of defeating the Thunder in their raucous home arena might have just become an impossible task for the Pacers.
But somehow the Pacers are hanging with the NBA's winningest team of the season.
Indiana's MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, Pascal Siakam, is leading the way for the Pacers with 10 points at halftime.
The Pacers' tandem of guards Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin have scored 9 points and 8 points respectively playing extra minutes.
The Pacers' secret weapon at the midway point might just be its in-your-face defense. In the absence of the team's most streaky scorer, Indiana as slowed the game down with its defense grinding on Oklahoma City on every possession.
The results speak for themselves, as the Pacers held one of the NBA's most dynamic offenses to just 47 first-half points and took a 1-point lead to the intermission.
And in a way, Tyrese Haliburton himself has a big role in the successful first half for Indiana.
Before his injury, Haliburton knocked down a trio of 3-pointers, scoring 9 points in just seven minutes played - tied for second most points for Indiana in the first half.
His 9 points were already more than he mustered in Indiana's Game 5 loss where he strained his right calf - the injury that precipitated his Achilles injury Sunday night.

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New York Times

14 minutes ago

• New York Times

For NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, balance leads to brilliance

Balance. The maintenance of equilibrium. The management of contradicting forces and interacting properties. The harmony of tension and stillness, strength and surrender. It's the secret sauce of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It's at the core of his shifty drives — the change of direction, the sudden stops, the odd-angled stepbacks. It's critical to his majestic midrange jumper, which often feels automatic. It's foundational to his persona, the brand he's gradually concocted over the years. Advertisement His persona is a balancing of the dichotomy at his core. His manner is reserved, composed. He's always been the type to survey before proceeding. Internal with his processing. Calculated with his moves. Canadian youth basketball figures remember the calmness he displayed as a youth and his cerebral approach. Simultaneously, and unmistakably, Gilgeous-Alexander owns a drive fit for a legend. Behind those scoping eyes and his Cheshire smile churns a quiet yearning for a greatness humble people aren't supposed to fathom. An ambition that for most fades away with daydreams. 'As a kid, you dream,' he said. 'Every kid dreams. But you don't ever really know if it's going to come true.' No way this could've been expected. Gilgeous-Alexander finished high school ranked No. 35 in ESPN's Top 100 for 2017. His cousin and high school teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker was No. 21 in a senior class topped by Marvin Bagley III and Michael Porter Jr. Gilgeous-Alexander was the ninth-ranked point guard on the list, behind Collin Sexton and Trae Young. Yet, SGA's ambition gained strength without being fueled by hype. He nurtured these dueling natures into a stabilizing force, keeping him centered while climbing. And now — at the end of his seventh season, the first five of which were spent in relative anonymity — Gilgeous-Alexander arrives in the stratosphere he dared to dream. Some three weeks shy of his 27th birthday, the NBA MVP is now an NBA champion, having sealed the deal on the Oklahoma City Thunder's historic season. He breached the clouds of ordinary greatness and ascended to scarcely occupied territory. The equipoise of SGA produced fruit. He spent much of Sunday's Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers trying to steady his breathing, suppress his nerves, conserve his energy and keep his teammates in the moment. But when his name was announced as the NBA Finals MVP, he finally let go. His teammates swarmed him, coaxing down his guard with their glee. Composure gave way to joy. The weight shifted from his shoulders to his hands, which gripped the 11-pound Bill Russell Trophy. With his gold signature Converse draped over his shoulder, Gilgeous-Alexander hoisted the finals MVP trophy above his head with both hands and a smile wider than his wingspan, ending his fast from a sense of accomplishment. 'This isn't just a win for me,' he told the packed arena inside Paycom Center. 'This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everybody that was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans, the best fans in the world.' Arriving at this pinnacle from Hamilton, Ontario, required the juggling of many elements. Being the franchise star to finally deliver a championship to Oklahoma City, a region all too familiar with thunderous heartbreaks, demanded a masterclass of stewardship. With the Thunder's overflowing contingent of young talent, including a pair of unproven co-stars, and a boy genius in coach Mark Daigenault wading into deep waters, Gilgeous-Alexander needed to coalesce it all — while also capitalizing on the superstardom calling. Advertisement With Oklahoma City's season on the brink, when it faced becoming one of league history's biggest disappointments, the balance of Gilgeous-Alexander saved the Thunder. He redistributed the weight onto himself. He was sturdy enough to keep them from falling. 'You just know that he won't fold,' teammate Lu Dort said. 'When the pressure's high, you know he's still there and ready to go. It sets a tone. When you see your best player like that, the other guys will just follow and (know) we're in a good position. We're good.' He finished Game 7 with 29 points and 12 assists, five rebounds and two steals in OKC's 103-91 victory. He finished the series averaging 30.3 points, making him the 18th player to average 30 or more in the NBA Finals. His 3,172 total points in 2024-25 — regular season and playoffs combined — is the ninth-most in a season and most since Jordan had 3,207 in 1992-93. Only 13 players have scored 3,000 points in one single season. Gilgeous-Alexander is now the 15th player in NBA history to win the MVP and an NBA championship in the same season. The first to do it since Stephen Curry in 2015. He is the 11th player to win regular-season and finals MVP in the same season. The first to do it since LeBron James in 2013. He is the fourth player to win a scoring title, regular-season MVP and finals MVP in the same season. The first to do so since Shaquille O'Neal in 2000, and the first international player to pull it off. And no doubt, the first who could don fur and stunna shades. 'Yeah, it's hard to believe that I'm part of that group,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes.' Balance. The deliberate distribution of weight to remain upright. The choreography of opposing forces, aligning what pulls with what resists. Not simply avoiding a fall, but a constant negotiation between gravity's pull and the will to stand. 'I swear, one time, his knee hit the ground,' Thunder forward Jaylin Williams said. 'And he still stayed on his feet and hit the shot. His balance is crazy.' Advertisement Perhaps his signature shot of these NBA Finals came on a drive down the left side. When he got near the baseline, Gilegous-Alexander stepped toward the paint and pressed his right forearm into Aaron Nesmith's chest, re-directing the momentum of the Pacers guard. But SGA's lead foot was clipped as Nesmith fell backwards, disrupting the plant on SGA's stepback. He stumbled, crouching on his left foot as he turned his focus towards the basket. He maintained his peering eyes on the rim as the rest of his faculties worked to keep him upright. His one-two step into the shot looked almost clumsy, his toe dragging on the second step. It gave Andrew Nembhard the time to hustle over and help. But once SGA got both feet on the ground, he reclaimed his stability. He rose for the baseline jumper and buried it from 14 feet, over Nembhard. He gave OKC its first lead of the second half, and it would never trail again. He gave Indiana 15 points over the final 4:38 down the stretch of Game 4. He gave the basketball world something to chew on. Is he this good? Does he belong in the same breath as the greats? The accolades he accumulated this season alone are worthy of Hall of Fame credentials. But him producing like this in the playoffs, in the finals, starts to reek of undeniable. The Thunder are champions, though, because of his versatility. Winning requires flexibility. Gilgeous-Alexander, who said he first stepped on a basketball court at 6 with hopes of winning, has the arsenal for such elasticity. The great ones know how to employ their repertoire. Their feel is special, instincts superior. They can sense the moments, understand what's needed and adapt accordingly. In Game 5, SGA bore the burden of delivering the Thunder. His read: His elite scoring was in order. Down four with 3:52 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander ran off seven straight points to change the tenor of crunch time. On Sunday, the heaviness of Game 7 had its effect. He didn't look as smooth. His shot didn't fall with his trademark ease. Yet, his aggressiveness didn't wane. He mixed up his approach, became a playmaker. Advertisement His 27 shots were the most since Game 1. But his attacking to score produced the desired effect by collapsing the defense. So he set up his teammates. Gilgeous-Alexander likes to drive and hold onto the ball as long as he can, through his deceleration and Eurosteps, for as long as he can hang in the air, until the defense responds to him — then he dumps it off to a teammate like a belated gift. The defining run came in the third quarter on Sunday, the score tied at 56. Gilgeous-Alexander faked a drive after a high ball screen and stepped back into a 3 before Pacers forward Pascal Siakam could do anything. This is where SGA would start cooking. But he knew Indiana thought the same thing, so he used it. The next time down, he posted up Nembhard, SGA's nemesis all series. He stepped back for his patented midrange, hung in the air long enough for the help defender to come, and then hit Chet Holmgren for an open 3. The next time down, Gilgeous-Alexander went to work again. A crossover left got Nembhard to move, setting up SGA's spin back to the middle. He glided towards the rim, having shed Nembhard, hanging in the air as he sized up the arc on his floater, buying time for Pacers center Myles Turner and Siakam to close in on him. It was all to set up the open look for Jalen Williams, whose 3-pointer rattled in. This 9-0 run wasn't the takeover of Game 5, but it was engineered by SGA. A product of knowing when to dominate and when to lead. The duality of being the point guard and one of the best scorers in the league. The balance of SGA, knowing how to do both and when to be either. The face and the voice of Oklahoma City. Its might and its measure. 'At the end of the day,' Holmgren proclaimed, 'that's going to go down in history as one of the greatest seasons that's ever been had by a player. It's amazing to be a part of that, to witness somebody going through it, succeeding in so many different ways. 'He really makes it a joy to be around. It's never about him. It's always about us. It's always about winning. His talent shines through all of that. We saw that all year. He's a hell of a basketball player, but he's an even better person. I'm proud to call him my teammate. Proud to call him my friend. I'm so happy that we were able to put a shiny cap on what he did this year.' Balance. The achievement of agreement between fluid elements. The force keeping chaos from spilling over. The invisible thread that connects motion and meaning, chaos with clarity. It's long been a strength of SGA. Perhaps no greater example exists than in the summer of 2016. Gilgeous-Alexander received a prestigious invite: the CP3 Elite Point Guard Camp. Chris Paul annually invites a group of proteges to his basketball academy to learn from the Point Gawd himself. That June, 15 of the best point guards in college, and 21 from the high school ranks, were anointed with a coveted spot in the three-day camp. Prep stars Trae Young and De'Aaron Fox joined the camp. Monte Morris and Dennis Smith Jr. highlighted the collegiate floor generals. Advertisement SGA wasn't highly touted at the time. In November 2015, he committed to the first school to offer him a scholarship, the Florida Gators, as an under-the-radar recruit. He'd just finished his junior year at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., his first season in America. So the exposure and the experience at CP3's camp were a big deal. A no-brainer for most. But Gilgeous-Alexander would have a breakthrough before heading to North Carolina. He took part in a six-day tryout for the Canadian Men's National Team before his senior year of high school. Canada was preparing for a FIBA tournament to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the practice facility of the Air Canada Centre, as the home of the Toronto Raptors was called then, he'd put himself on the map of his nation's hoop scene. 'I remember one of the practices,' said Joe Raso, a highly regarded coach, international scout and unofficial historian of Canadian basketball. '(Kentucky coach John) Calipari was in the gym. Shai was giving Cory Joseph and Tyler Ennis fits. They were NBA guys, and he was a high school kid.' Gilgeous-Alexander earned one of the 12 roster spots. So he had a choice to make. Options to weigh. He could attend Chris Paul's camp, where future All-Star Victor Oladipo helped teach, and some dozen NBA scouts attended. He left Canada to finish high school ball in America in search of tougher competition. This was a prominent chance to show out against proven talent. Or, he could skip the splashy opportunity and hit the road almost immediately with the national team. A five-game exhibition tournament in Italy prepared the squad for the qualifying tournament in the Philippines. But this option included one caveat: the high schooler wouldn't play much. An early clash of his dichotomy. The push of clandestine development. The pull of a splashy opportunity for growth. Nearly a decade ago, at a pivotal juncture, Gilgeous-Alexander found himself measuring options. Advertisement He chose Canada. 'Because I was going to play with pros,' SGA said Sunday night. He didn't play a single minute in the Philippines. But every day, before the team practice, he put in work. Away from the spotlight. With Steve Nash. 'I didn't know much about Shai at all when he came to camp,' said Nash, who was general manager of Canada's men's national team at the time. 'He was heading to Kentucky as a late commit. I knew within two practices that he was an NBA player because of his feel, pace and length. I had no idea the player he'd turn into. His work ethic and focus are outstanding, and he's proof that you never know what's possible unless you commit wholeheartedly with vision and go after it every day.' He chose quiet work as his way to make noise. He captured clout by ignoring the covetousness it inspires. SGA could always silence the noise so he could see the right path. It's why he was a punctual and reliable student. It's why in high school and college, he'd hit the gym hours before school. His coach, Dwayne Washington, got emotional when SGA asked for access to the gym at 6 a.m. Working before work began. Some of his teammates at Kentucky, including Kevin Knox and Jarred Vanderbilt, tapped into the tradition. Even when he entered the league, he worked in the shadows. Drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 11 in 2018, he spent his rookie season learning from veterans like Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley. He was traded to Oklahoma City and took a backseat to the bounty of picks the Clippers sent with him for Paul George. When no one was paying attention, he bonded with Chris Paul and learned even more than he'd missed three years earlier. When Oklahoma City won 46 games over two seasons in a rebuild, SGA was working on his jumper, improving his free-throw percentage and honing his midrange. So when he dropped his first of three straight seasons averaging 30-plus points per game, he felt out of nowhere. But the whole time, he was grooming. Advertisement Curating his swag and sharpening his game. Finding his voice and developing his brand. Building his own family and leading his team. Stacking wins and appreciating moments. Now he's at the mountaintop after putting it all together. 'As far as face of the league,' Thunder wing Alex Caruso said, '… he's got that capability. Clearly, the year he's had — MVP, Western Conference finals MVP, finals MVP, champion — I don't think anyone will question his ability. I think the thing that sets him apart is he'll probably be hungry for more. He probably won't be satisfied with winning this one time. He'll want to be better. He'll want to see how he can tweak and maneuver his game to a better fit and take advantage of the way people guard him. That's just the special ability that he has mentally to be competitive and want to be great.' This is just the beginning. The first championship isn't the pinnacle, but the key to accessing another level. SGA will experience a new level of fame. The demands on his time will increase. The responsibility of stardom falls on his shoulders. Oklahoma City is on the map now. More national games are coming. The prime slots and showcase games. As the NBA begins new partnerships with NBC and Amazon, Gilgeous-Alexander is now in a position to be a fresh face to promote. With more opportunity comes greater expectations. With more exposure comes increased scrutiny. More demands on his time. More pressure to perform. More attacks on the chemistry and potency of the Thunder. The reward for his brilliance at managing everything is now even more to manage. Staying at the top demands even more of his special sauce. Balance.

Yahoo

14 minutes ago

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Caitlin Clark reacts to Tyrese Haliburton's devastating Game 7 injury in Pacers loss

The post Caitlin Clark reacts to Tyrese Haliburton's devastating Game 7 injury in Pacers loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. There's nothing quite more heartbreaking for an NBA player than to suffer a potential long-term injury in the biggest game of his life, but that's exactly what happened to Tyrese Haliburton in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Haliburton, who was dealing with a calf injury, ended up tweaking his Achilles on a non-contact play, and his absence left quite a huge void as the Pacers suffered a 103-91 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, ending their championship dreams with a snap of a finger. Advertisement Haliburton was having an incredible game before he went down with an injury. The Pacers star came to play, drilling three triples on four attempts before going down with an Achilles injury. This only makes Indiana's heartbreak that much more devastating, as all they could do now is imagine what could have been after experiencing the pain that comes with what actually happened. The NBA world is in unison, wishing Haliburton nothing but the best. In fact, another Indiana sporting icon, Caitlin Clark, posted a quick story on her Instagram account reacting to the Pacers star's injury. Haliburton's injury seemed to ignite the Pacers in the first half, as it did not look evident that they were reeling at all from his loss. They even took a one-point lead into the halftime interval after Andrew Nembhard drilled a long three-pointer right over the outstretched arms of Chet Holmgren. Advertisement But in the second half, that's when Haliburton's injury was felt the most. The Thunder ramped up the defensive aggression, forcing one turnover after another, and having Haliburton could have helped the Pacers slow down and make the right reads offensively instead of speeding up into trouble. What's done is done, and the hope now is that Haliburton recovers back to full strength as quickly as possible. Pacers will hold the fort amid Tyrese Haliburton's potential long-term absence Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images If there's anything these Pacers have proven in this year's playoffs, it's that no adversity is too much for them to overcome. Haliburton's injury is not helpful whatsoever to their chances of competing next season, but they have enough talent and room to grow even further that they can remain in the playoff hunt even with Haliburton likely to miss a good chunk, if not the entirety of next season. Advertisement For now, it will be up to Clark and the Indiana Fever to try and give Indiana sports fans the basketball triumph everyone in the state has been craving for. Related: 1 player Pacers must trade after Tyrese Haliburton injury, NBA Finals loss Related: Former Pacers guard Victor Oladipo triggers buzz with passionate Tyrese Haliburton injury take

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Why Shaquille O'Neal decided to join the Reebok executive team

Shaquille O'Neal was a dominant force in the NBA, a 7-foot-1 gentle giant who shattered boards, racked up four titles and left an indelible mark as one of the best centers in basketball history. But since his retirement in 2011, Shaq has shown that his impact goes far beyond sports. Now, in the business world, from offices and boardrooms, Shaq is focused on remaining the most dominant ever. Advertisement Beyond his impressive height, one of O'Neal's most distinguishing traits is his sense of humor. In the "Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal" Netflix series, which premiered on June 4, he acknowledges that his mindset is '80% humor and 20% seriousness' when it comes to running his businesses. That doesn't mean he doesn't take his responsibilities seriously. In fact, he believes that some people tried to exploit his outgoing nature when he first started his business ventures. 'Yes, a lot of people try to take advantage and that just drives me to do more things,' O'Neal told L.A. Times en Español. Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press) He is accustomed to people trying to exploit his perceived weaknesses. Advertisement "They always said, 'With the way he shoots free throws, he'll never win a championship.' OK, maybe that's true, but I'm going to dominate the game so much that free throws don't even matter." He brings the same mentality to his position at Reebok, where he is president of basketball — a position he assumed in 2023 — and is leading a push to bring relevance back to a brand that once bet on him to be a star. "When I went to Nike, they said, 'Yeah, we wanted to give you your own sneakers, but we gave them to another guy.' And I said, 'Excuse me? To this guy?' And then when I went to Reebok, they said, 'We believe in you, we're going to give you your own shoes,'" O'Neal recalls. That loyalty was not forgotten. Today, 30 years after signing with Reebok as a player, O'Neal is back, not to launch retro updates of his shoes, but to make decisions, train a new generation of athletes and reshape the brand's place in a fiercely competitive market. Advertisement Shaq didn't join Reebok's executive team just for nostalgia's sake. His vision is clear: Take a chance like they took a chance on him in the 1990s. Read more: Shaqramento State or Shaq State? O'Neal becomes GM of Sacramento State basketball program "They took a chance on young Shaq. He took a chance on young AI [Allen Iverson]. He took a chance on young Shawn Kemp. And we turned the plan into a dominant number two. Never number one, but never number three," O'Neal explained. With that logic, the former player decided not to bet Reebok's current NBA marketing budget all on one superstar. Advertisement "I wanted to go the traditional route. 'Hey, let's go for Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. Let's go for Jaylen Brown.' But when you talk to agents, these guys want big numbers. ... You're going to spend 85 or 90% of the budget," O'Neal said. His team — including his son, Shareef — convinced O'Neal to invest in emerging talent with a strong social media presence and a mindset of their own. Case in point is WNBA Chicago Sky player Angel Reese, who signed with Reebok in 2023. "Angel reminds me of AI. She's going to do it her way, the way she wants to do it. She doesn't care what anyone else says," O'Neal said. Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Allen Iverson watch the NBA Rookie Challenge on Feb. 18, 2005, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Mark Terrill / Associated Press) He sees Reese not only as a great athlete, but as an influential figure who embodies the disruptive spirit he wants to restore in the Reebok brand. Advertisement O'Neal isn't just impressed by what he sees on the court. He's looking for something more. "I'm looking for someone who isn't getting the recognition he deserves," he said. "We live in a world where, once they get noticed by one or two guys, they stick with them forever." He said he was underestimated in his early days. Despite being selected with the first pick in the 1992 draft and making an immediate impact with the Orlando Magic, he said during early career business meetings "they never looked at me. They always looked at my manager. It was like, 'Do you think he understands business?'" That prompted him to study business administration and management and get serious about his financial education. Advertisement 'I just thought, 'Let me get a degree ... so you know I understand that I'm in charge of my own destiny,'' O'Neal said. Now, as president of Reebok basketball, he also values athletes' family ties, their work ethic, their environment and their desire to represent something bigger than themselves. "I like the people, the moms, the dads, the coaches. People want to be represented in a certain way," O'Neal said. Read more: Shaquille O'Neal drops a bomb on Jimmy Fallon: A recent viral moment was indeed about No. 2 He doesn't presume to have all the answers. He admits he's had to adapt and learn. Advertisement "It's just about challenges. I've always been one to step up to meet them. ... I had to learn a lot, learn about this business," he said. To appeal to the broadest group of customers, he has relied on a close circle of advisors that includes his son, Shareef. "I had to bring in my son to help me identify with the crazy Generation Z, because they do what they want. They follow their own path. They have their own rules," O'Neal said. While still a strong, determined figure, O'Neal has learned to accept feedback from others. 'I don't think my best quality is listening,' he admits. But in his new role, he's had to let go of some of his old-school style and trust his team. Advertisement O'Neal was one of the most dominant players the NBA has ever seen. Now he's one of the most successful athletes in the business world. His investment portfolio includes franchises of businesses such as Papa John's, Five Guys, 24 Hour Fitness and his own line of products and apparel. He also holds commercial endorsement contracts with brands such as Icy Hot, The General insurance and Carnival Cruises, among others. But his business success has not been linear. Read more: What feud? Shaq agrees to walk Dwight Howard out at Hall of Fame induction: 'That's my guy' 'On the road to success, there are many failures and you simply have to try to have more successes than failures,' he said. Advertisement His secret has been to surround himself with skilled people. "I have great teammates," O'Neal said. "My friend wins a championship by herself. It's called delegation." Shaq has turned his image into a global brand, but he insists the key has been staying true to his values. It all revolves around his family. 'I am who you think I am. I realized I couldn't have done any of this without my family and their blessings,' he says. He said his faith and personal values help him manage the impact of his success. "I said it about seven years ago, never call me famous," O'Neal said. "Celebrities are jerks. I just want to be a normal person. I'm a respectful person. I love kids. I love the elderly. I love helping those in need. I love making people smile. So the answer to the question of how I keep my feet on the ground, you know exactly how I do it: Salaam-alaikum [Peace be upon you], brother." Advertisement Long before he joined he executive team, O'Neal played a major role in Reebok's success. In the early 1990s, while Nike and Adidas were building giant empires, Reebok bet on O'Neal and Iverson, and managed to position itself as a serious alternative, especially among urban youth. But over time, the brand lost ground. Now, with O'Neal leading the renaissance of its basketball division, Reebok wants to regain that lost space. It doesn't intend to compete directly with Nike or Adidas for big stars, but to create an ecosystem of its own. "It's not about a gamble. It's about making the right decision," O'Neal said. O'Neal has been many things: NBA champion, most valuable player, All-Star, entrepreneur, commentator, DJ, actor, honorary police officer, philanthropist. But perhaps his most powerful facet is that of a man who builds bridges, pushes others and constantly reinvents himself. Advertisement This new movement, he says, is strategic and personal. He is enjoying a reunion with the brand that believed in him and an opportunity to return the favor by helping Reebok connect with customers. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español. Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.