Latest news with #GainbridgeFieldhouse
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Makes Admission on Conflict During Fever-Valkyries Game
Caitlin Clark Makes Admission on Conflict During Fever-Valkyries Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever are back in action on Thursday night as Caitlin Clark and Co. look to mark their third straight win. They take on the Golden State Valkyries in a road game at Chase Center with the objective of improving on their 6-5 record. Advertisement Clark spoke to reporters before the game, and one of the questions she was asked was about the schedule conflict involving the Indiana Pacers. The 23-year-old has been avidly supporting the Pacers throughout the playoffs, which is why there is some sense of regret on her end that she won't be able to watch Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night. "It's probably starting right about now, I'm assuming," Clark said of the game. "Honestly, I'll probably check the score a few times when I go on my phone before the game starts, but other than that, I'm probably not gonna know the final score until after our game." Caitlin Clark attends Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Terada-Imagn Images Clark has been a bit of a lucky charm for the Pacers throughout the postseason. They've gone 8-1 in the nine games she's attended at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. She won't be around for Game 6, though, with the Pacers needing a win to stay alive in the series. Advertisement "I wish it didn't fall on the same night as us, but I feel good about the Pacers here in Game 6," Clark continued. "I think they're gonna push it to a Game 7. I think all basketball fans would appreciate a Game 7 in OKC. "You've got to give OKC credit, too. I think they've had a tremendous series and honestly, a tremendous season as well." Clark had nothing but praise for the Thunder, but there is no doubt that she's hoping that they will suffer defeat on Thursday night. A win for the Pacers will force a Game 7 in OKC on Monday, but Clark won't be able to watch that one in person either. Nevertheless, the Pacers can count on the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year's unwavering support--win or lose. Advertisement Related: Indiana Fever React to Caitlin Clark's Outfit for Valkyries Game Related: WNBA Issues Statement on Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin Before Fever-Valkyries Game Related: Indiana Fever Assistant Issues Statement on Stephanie White's Sudden Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tyrese Haliburton plays through injury, sparks Pacers to force Game 7
INDIANAPOLIS — For Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, one good leg was more than enough to deny the Oklahoma City Thunder its first chance to win the NBA championship. Haliburton gutted through a right calf strain that limited his mobility and pop to spark Indiana's 108-91 Game 6 victory over Oklahoma City at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, pushing the NBA Finals to Game 7 for the first time since 2016. The Thunder will host the winner-take-all series finale Sunday night.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein's ‘desperation' take before Game 6 vs Pacers
The post Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein's 'desperation' take before Game 6 vs Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. INDIANAPOLIS — While Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein knows the Indiana Pacers will be fighting to keep their season alive in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, he can almost taste the champagne and smell the cigar smoke. The champagne bottles will be on ice, accompanied by boxes of cigars at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, awaiting the Thunder to clinch their first championship in franchise history. Hartenstein's traveled a long road to reach this point. Advertisement It's a journey Hartenstein shares with many of his Thunder teammates in his first season with Oklahoma City. Hartenstein believes the Thunder, with a 3-2 lead in the Finals' best-of-7, have to play with a level of desperation that surpasses the Pacers' approach in Game 6. 'It's the first to four. So, we're not going to come in acting like everything is sealed, everything's done,' Hartenstein said. 'They're gonna come out with desperation. They're a great team, and we're gonna come out with the same, probably even more, desperation. That's where we're at,' Hartenstein said. 'We're not looking too far ahead. Mark does a great job of not focusing too much on the outside. Not focusing too much on if we win one game, we're going to win a championship. 'We're really focused on let's play this Game 6. Let's go through the ups and downs through the Game 6, but then also, just establish it early, and come out with an emphasis,' Hartenstein concluded. The notion that the Larry O'Brien trophy and everything that comes with it — commemorative Thunder championship t-shirts, cigars, and champagne will be in the building at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse — should yield a desperate approach. Couple that with the possibility of hosting a Game 7, where anything can happen, back in Oklahoma City, and you'd understand why it's imperative for the Thunder to close out the Pacers on the road in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder's battle adversity, is paying off Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Before Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein inked a three-year, $87 million deal, he was fighting to stay in the NBA. It's a background many of his teammates can relate to, which Hartenstein addressed before practice for Game 6. Advertisement 'We've all been through certain obstacles in our careers. I think we're very mature for our ages because we've been through that adversity,' Hartenstein said. 'I also think Sam [Presti] and Mark [Daigneault] did a great job of just establishing a culture where you can thrive in situations.' Now, the Thunder are on the cusp of capturing their first championship in franchise history. Related: Chet Holmgren's honest message before NBA Finals Game 6 Related: Mark Daigneault explains how Thunder can clinch championship in Game 6
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 Simple Keys for Indiana Pacers to Bounce Back in NBA Finals
3 Simple Keys for Indiana Pacers to Bounce Back in NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After their comeback effort fell short in Game 5, the Indiana Pacers are one loss away from losing the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 5, the Pacers rallied to come back from down 18 points, cutting the deficit to two, before the wheels fell off the bus. Advertisement On Thursday, the series will head back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, allowing Indiana one last do-or-die effort in front of their home fans, hoping to force a Game 7. In Game 5, Tyrese Haliburton failed to make a shot from the floor, although stellar play from the Pacers' bench kept them in the game down the stretch. With no room for error, Indiana will need to be flawless, and there are three keys they must emphasize. 1. Tyrese Haliburton must score No team has won a Finals game when a starting guard goes 0-for-anything, and Haliburton offered a masterclass in ineffectiveness, finishing with only four points with six missed shots from the floor. Advertisement His defense and facilitating remained solid, although when the best player on a team fails to make a single shot, it's impossible to remain competitive. If it wasn't for TJ McConnell scoring 18 points off the bench, the game would have been over long before the final buzzer, although the backup point guard was able to put the team on his back, orchestrating a comeback that barely fell short. In Game 6, Haliburton, who was hobbled with a leg injury, will have to play like he's feeling 100 percent, lest the Pacers lose in the Finals for the second time. 2. Pacers' bench must remain elite In every game so far in these Finals, the Thunder have had at least one bench player score double-digits, with eight total double-digit bench games in the series. The Thunder, meanwhile, have six such games. Advertisement In the postseason, the Pacers' bench has averaged 36.6 points per game compared to OKC's 32.5 points, although Alex Caruso is responsible for more than his fair share. While the Thunder rely on Caruso and Aaron Wiggins to make big plays, the Pacers can call on McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and even Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley to make things happen. In Game 6, the Pacers will need Haliburton to be excellent, but when he and the rest of the starters sit, they can't take their foot off the gas. Luckily, the second unit loves to push the pace, and there can't be a single moment of slowing down. 3. Thunder can't have two 30-point scorers The Thunder have two All-NBA players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace are more than capable of getting hot. Advertisement In Game 5, Williams scored 40 points and SGA offered a well-rounded 31 points and ten assists. It's simple, really: if two players manage to combine for 60 points, it's very hard to lose the game. With the Thunder, it's almost guaranteed that one player will score 30 points. Usually, that's Gilgeous-Alexander, who is one of the most unguardable players in the NBA, but if the Pacers can limit the impact of the surging cast while letting him fill up the stat sheet, there's a high likelihood they can push the series to seven games. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Bench Heroics Not Enough for Pacers as Tyrese Haliburton Disappears Related: Magic and Grizzlies Set NBA Trade Market, Could Key Pacers Fetch a Massive Price? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Pacers issue emotional plea to fans as Thunder seek NBA Finals clincher: 'One more time, Indiana'
The Indiana Pacers enter Thursday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the brink of elimination. The Thunder defeated the Pacers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 NBA Finals series lead. Even if the Pacers are able to stave off elimination on Thursday, Game 6 will mark the final NBA playoff game this year that is played in Indianapolis. The series would shift back to Oklahoma City for Game 7, if necessary. Several hours before Game 6 tipped off, the Pacers shared a rallying cry with the team's supporters. "One more time, Indiana," the Pacers wrote on X on Thursday morning. "This is it–the final home game of the season. One last chance to fight. To believe," a graphic posted to the Pacers social media account read. "Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been electric all year, but this time we'll be louder. Wilder. More relentless than ever. We bring the chaos from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Because tonight, we leave it all out there." The Pacers then encouraged fans to create a raucous atmosphere by standing up and waving their yellow towels. "So get on your feet. Wave those towels. BE DOMINANT. BE DEAFENING AND ABOVE ALL…BELIEVE." The Pacers said the team will "fight to see another day." Meanwhile, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is fighting his way through a strained right calf. Even as the start of Game 6 looms, Haliburton's status for tonight remains a question mark. "I think I have to be as smart as I want to be," the star guard said Wednesday. "Have to understand the risks, ask the right questions. I'm a competitor. I want to play. I'm going to do everything in my power to play. That's just what it is." Meanwhile, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the cusp of a nearly unprecedented season when it comes to individual honors. He is the favorite, as of now, to win NBA Finals MVP. He has already won the NBA MVP award for this season, meaning he could be the first double MVP since LeBron James did it with Miami in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Gilgeous-Alexander took the NBA's scoring title this past season as well. Thursday is also the 25th anniversary of the end of Indiana's most recent appearance in the NBA Finals before this season. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
